Category: India

CM said the blast claimed mostly women and SC community members who had come for daily wage work to support their families.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday evening visited the injured victims at Government General Hospital (GGH) in Kakinada following the devastating explosion at Suryashree Fireworks unit in Vetlapalem village, Samalkot Mandal, Kakinada district and announced an exgratia of Rs 20 lakhs to each family of the victims.

He also announced suspension of four senior district officials. He said the blast claimed mostly women and SC community members who had come for daily wage work to support their families.

Naidu, who rushed from Vizianagaram after reviewing the situation with senior officials, consoled the grieving kin and assured comprehensive government support. “The government stands firmly with the affected families,” he said, announcing ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh per deceased family from state funds. The Centre has separately declared Rs 2 lakh per family.

Expressing outrage over negligence by local officials, Naidu announced the immediate suspension of four key officers, RDO, DSP, District Labour Officer, and Fire Officer. “Post-inquiry, action will extend to all responsible parties,” he added.

Addressing the media at GGH, Naidu called the firecracker incident “highly unfortunate and heart-wrenching. So far, 20 have died; nine remain critical, with two narrowly escaping. Among victims 12 SC members and nine women,” he said.

“This is the second such event recently,” he noted, vowing prevention measures. “We will conduct a thorough inquiry, fix responsibility, and ensure no recurrences,” said Naidu.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/kakinada-blast-andhra-cm-vows-justice-after-visiting-victims-four-officials-suspended-3915807

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Dhekiajuli, marking the start of a significant campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday launched the BJP’s massive public outreach programme, the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, from the premises of Gupteshwar Temple in Dhekiajuli, marking the beginning of an intensive campaign ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Standing atop an open vehicle as the procession began, Sarma said he was “seeking the blessings of the people of Assam,” signaling the start of what the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) describes as a large-scale mobilisation drive to highlight its governance record.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by state BJP president Dilip Saikia and Union Minister Pabitra Margherita.Party leaders said the first phase of the yatra will run from February 28 to March 9, covering 34 Assembly constituencies before concluding in Rangiya.

According to party plans, the Chief Minister will interact with nearly one lakh people each day, traveling 70 to 80 kilometres daily to showcase the government’s work over the last five years, including initiatives in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and welfare delivery. The BJP, which has governed the state for the past decade, is aiming for a third consecutive term in power.

Party strategists view Assam as a crucial political gateway to the Northeast, where Sarma has played a key role in building alliances with regional forces, strengthening the party’s footprint across the region.

The report comes exactly a month after the Learjet-45 aircraft owned by VSR Ventures crashed at Baramati airfield on January 28 killing Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar and four others.​​

Exactly a month after the plane crash of Ajit Pawar, the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is investigating the case, released its 22-page preliminary report on Saturday. The Learjet-45 aircraft owned by VSR Ventures crashed on January 28, near Baramati, killing Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Pawar and four others. The report has revealed information about the circumstances at the time of the accident and technical errors by describing the exact moments of the accident. According to the report, the plane first hit a tree and then crashed into the ground some distance from the runway.

The cockpit and cabin of the plane were completely destroyed in the accident and later by fire that also damaged the flight data recorder due to heat. However, the investigation agency has been able to download its raw data for investigation.

Oil was the regulator of the global economy in the 20th century, but microchips are the regulator of the global economy in the 21st century, and India is ready to become a reliable hub for the production of these memory devices, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday

Oil was the regulator of the global economy in the 20th century, but microchips are the regulator of the global economy in the 21st century, and India is ready to become a reliable hub for the production of these memory devices, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

He further added that his government had realised the importance of semiconductor manufacturing technology when the world was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The government approved the country’s semiconductor policy and has so far cleared 10 projects. Four of these projects are about to start production of chips, he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of India’s first semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The Rs 22,500 crore facility has been set up by US-based chip major Micron Technology.

Modi said that Micron’s plant reflects the strong relationship between India and the United States in strategic sectors. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the event.

The ATMP (Assembly, Test and Packaging) facility will convert advanced DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and NAND wafers into finished products for markets worldwide.

These are extensively used in products like computers, smartphones and data centres.

With its groundbreaking ceremony held in September 2023, the Micron facility was the first project to be approved under the government’s India Semiconductor Mission.

The chip unit has about 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space, ranking it among the largest raised-floor cleanrooms in the world.

The inauguration marks a strategic milestone for the country in its effort to become self-reliant in one of the most crucial components of the electronics industry.

The chip unit is also expected to generate direct employment for about 5,000 skilled professionals, with the potential to create an additional 15,000 jobs indirectly.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/microchips-are-oil-of-21st-century-india-ready-to-lead-in-semiconductors-pm-modi-at-first-chip-plant-launch

United States President Donald Trump deeply cares about the relationship with India, and the American administration will continue to explore the limitless potential that exists between the two countries, said Sergio Gor, Ambassador of the United States of America to India

United States President Donald Trump deeply cares about the relationship with India, and the American administration will continue to explore the limitless potential that exists between the two countries, said Sergio Gor, Ambassador of the United States of America to India.

The comments comes even as India has postposed the finalisation of its trade deal with the US.

“Our President (Donald Trump) has a dear friendship with your Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is something that has endured for many years in the past, and it is something that we will carry on for the next three years of the Trump administration in Washington,” Gor said at an event in Sanand, Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present.

He said Trump cares deeply about the relationship with India and that the next three years of his administration will enable the two nations to tap into the limitless potential that exists.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of India’s first semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The Rs 22,500 crore facility has been set up by US-based chip major Micron Technology.

The ATMP (Assembly, Test and Packaging) facility will convert advanced DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and NAND wafers into finished products for markets worldwide.

These are extensively used in products like computers, smartphones and data centres.

With its groundbreaking ceremony held in September 2023, the Micron facility was the first project to be approved under the government’s India Semiconductor Mission.

The chip unit has about 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space, ranking it among the largest raised-floor cleanrooms in the world.

The inauguration marks a strategic milestone for the country in its effort to become self-reliant in one of the most crucial components of the electronics industry.

The chip unit is also expected to generate direct employment for about 5,000 skilled professionals, with the potential to create an additional 15,000 jobs indirectly.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/trump-deeply-cares-about-relationship-with-india-says-us-ambassador-gor-in-modis-presence

Mumbai International Airport Ltd issued a NOTAM at 9 pm stating it would no longer accept additional flight diversions, according to a source.

The Mumbai airport on Saturday issued a ‘NOTAM’ to state that it will not accept any flight for diversion until 8 am on Sunday amid the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The decision was taken due to the paucity of parking space at the airport with a number of flights returning to their origin or diverting to nearby airports, a source said.

Mumbai International Airport Ltd, the private airport operator, issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) “for not accepting any more diversions” at 9 pm, the source added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/middle-east-crisis-mumbai-international-airport-no-flight-diversions-sunday-morning-inadequate-parking-space-2876029-2026-02-28

Earlier on Saturday, the US and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East after weeks of mounting strain.

India on Saturday expressed deep concern over the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia, particularly in Iran and the wider Gulf region, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying New Delhi is closely monitoring recent developments and their potential impact on regional peace and stability. Emphasising the need for restraint, India urged all parties involved to avoid actions that could further aggravate the situation.

“India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region. We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians,” the MEA said in an official statement.

Stressing the importance of peaceful engagement, the government underlined that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to de-escalation.

It also reiterated that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected, reflecting India’s long-standing position on adherence to international law and the UN Charter.

Earlier on Saturday, the US and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East after weeks of mounting strain.

Israel described the US-backed action, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” as a series of pre-emptive attacks.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that a “major combat operation” was underway, as blasts were reported across multiple locations in Iran.

ADVISORIES ISSUED TO INDIAN CITIZENS

Authorities said the explosion was so powerful that it triggered a large fire and sent thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, causing panic in surrounding villages.

A massive explosion ripped through a fireworks manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district on Friday afternoon, leaving more than 10 people dead and several others injured, according to preliminary reports.

The blast occurred around 2 pm at Surya Sri Fire Works, in Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district. The unit is situated between Vetlapalem and G Medapadu.

Authorities said the explosion was so powerful that it triggered a large fire and sent thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, causing panic in surrounding villages.

Initial information suggests that over 10 people lost their lives in the incident, while at least eight others sustained severe injuries.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in ambulances for treatment. Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims.

Residents in the area reported hearing a loud blast that could be heard up to five kilometres away.

The impact of the explosion was so intense that bodies were reportedly thrown into nearby crop fields.

Cracks were also said to have developed in the slab of a private school building in a neighbouring village due to the force of the blast.

Fire department teams rushed to the site with two fire engines and began efforts to control the flames.

Emergency responders and local authorities are continuing rescue and relief operations amid concerns that more workers may have been present at the facility at the time of the explosion.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/andhra-pradesh/story/many-people-killed-after-massive-explosion-at-firecracker-factory-in-kakinada-andhra-pradesh-2875905-2026-02-28

 

The programme will target approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years every year across all States and Union Territories. The vaccine will be provided free of cost at designated Government health facilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme in Rajasthan’s Ajmer. The move is aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare against cervical cancer. Following the launch, the Prime Minister addressed a rally in the state and claimed that the NDA government is determined to ensure development across all levels, and the launch of the HPV vaccine is testimony to that.

“Our government is committed to all-around development. In line with this, today in Ajmer, we had the privilege of launching the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign along with the inauguration and foundation stone laying of several projects, and the distribution of appointment letters to the youth,” PM Modi said.

The programme will target approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years every year across all States and Union Territories. The vaccine will be provided free of cost at designated Government health facilities. Vaccination will be conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary health centres), community health centres, sub-district and district hospitals, as well as government medical colleges and hospitals. The medical sessions will be supervised by medical officers and adequate healthcare teams. The medical sites will have functional cold chain points (CCPs) and will be linked to 247 government health facilities to ensure immediate medical support and management of any rare adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).

The move came amid the country’s existing struggle with cervical cancer. The disease is the second most common cancer, with more than 1 lakh 20 thousand new cases and over 80,000 deaths being registered as per the GLOBOCAN 2022 data.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-launches-nationwide-hpv-vaccination-campaign-against-cervical-cancer-in-rajasthan-2875803-2026-02-28

Mission officials are in ‘constant and direct touch’ with thousands of Indian nationals stranded due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation, sources said

As West Asia stands on the precipice of a full-scale regional war following the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, the Indian government has initiated a massive diplomatic and logistical effort to ensure the safety of its citizens. Top sources within the Indian Embassy in Israel have confirmed to CNN-News18 that mission officials are in “constant and direct touch” with the thousands of Indian nationals currently stranded due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

The Indian Embassy has established 24×7 communication channels to monitor the safety, precise locations, and immediate requirements of the Indian community, which includes a significant number of caregivers, IT professionals, and students. A detailed security advisory has been reissued, urging all citizens to exercise “extreme caution”, avoid all unnecessary movement, and strictly adhere to the safety protocols mandated by the local Home Front Command. This outreach is being facilitated through a multi-pronged mechanism involving official digital channels, social media, and direct community leader engagement.

With Israel’s airspace currently a theatre for interceptions and commercial flight operations severely disrupted, New Delhi is actively preparing for a large-scale evacuation. Embassy sources indicated that formal planning is already underway to facilitate the exit of Indian nationals through land borders.

The Ministry of External Affairs is currently assessing two primary corridors: Egypt (via the Taba crossing) and Jordan (via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge). The final route will be determined by real-time threat assessments and the “security matrix” on the ground. Crucially, movement will only be facilitated the moment a “safe and viable window” is secured through coordination with local authorities and regional partners.

The Embassy has issued a stern warning to citizens against attempting to reach border points independently. Sources emphasised that the current situation is “not conducive for road travel” due to active hostilities, restricted mobility corridors, and the highly unpredictable nature of the security landscape.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indian-embassy-in-israel-activates-round-the-clock-response-as-west-asia-erupts-exclusive-details-9936022.html

Hitting out at the BJP, Kejriwal said he has earned only honesty and reputation in his entire life, which was being attacked by Modi and Shah through a “fake” liquor scam case.

Arvind Kejriwal on Friday charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of plotting the “biggest political conspiracy” in independent India’s history to finish off AAP through a “fake” liquor scam case and dared the ruling BJP to call fresh elections in Delhi insisting that it will not get more than ten seats or else he will quit politics.

As soon as the court delivered the order discharging him and 22 others, including his close aide Manish Sisodia in the case, a teary-eyed Kejriwal told reporters that the court has proved that “Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP are ‘Kattar Imaandar’ (brutally honest)”.

See more

मैं कोई नेता नहीं हूँ, जो मुझ पर फ़र्क़ ना पड़े। मुझे जब कोई बेईमान कहता है, मेरे परिवार को ताने मारे जाते हैं तो मुझे फ़र्क़ पड़ता है।

मैंने तय किया था कि जब तक मुझे पूरे देश के सामने ईमानदार साबित नहीं किया जाता, तब तक मैं चुप रहूँगा। आज मेरे दिल से बहुत बड़ा बोझ उतर गया है।… pic.twitter.com/857bk3Sl4m

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 27, 2026

“I always used to say that God is with us. Modi-ji and Amit Shah-ji together hatched the biggest political conspiracy of Independent India. The five biggest leaders of AAP were sent to jail to finish off the party. First time a sitting Chief Minister was “dragged out of his home and put in jail,” he said, as he broke down.

“I have only earned honesty. They registered a fake case. Today, it’s proved, the court has said ‘Kejriwal Kattar Imandar Hai, Manish Sisodia Kattar Imandar Hai, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Kattar Imandar Hai….If you want power, do good things. There are so many problems — inflation, unemployment, broken down roads, pollution — solve these problems to come to power,” he said.

As he arrived at his official residence on Feroze Shah Road, he was welcomed by his family and party members. Sunita Kejriwal, his wife, hugged him and later said, “Arvind Kejriwal led his entire life with honesty and for the progress of the country. But these people, in their greed for power, levelled fake charges, jailed his aides.”

Later at a press conference, Kejriwal launched an attack on the ruling BJP, claiming that the saffron party could see they could not defeat us in Delhi and that they knew the people of Delhi were happy with them and so they hatched a conspiracy.

Insisting that he has “not earned a single illegal penny” and that he is “not like them”, he said, “Delhi has been pushed into decline. The heaviest cost of PM Modi and Amit Shah’s pursuit of power has been borne by the three crore people of Delhi. Today, I challenge Modi-ji, if he has the courage, let him call fresh elections in Delhi. If his party secures even more than 10 seats, I will quit politics,” he said.

He said the BJP targeted his and AAP’s honesty because the public knows that Kejriwal and AAP are honest.

“They conspired to finish the AAP, repeatedly saying, ‘Kejriwal is dishonest’. They accused me of a liquor scam, of taking money, of siphoning off Rs 100 crore. I have earned nothing in my life except honesty and respect,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/will-quit-politics-if-arvind-kejriwal-challenges-pm-modi-to-hold-elections-in-delhi-again-3914136#google_vignette 

The post shared by the woman featured two photos, one from Vande Bharat and another from China’s Bullet train.

A woman’s recent post on X (formerly Twitter) has triggered a wide online debate after she compared her brother’s train journeys in China and India. In her post featuring two photos, she explained that her brother clicked one of them while travelling on a high-speed train in China and another while travelling on India’s Vande Bharat train. With her post, she sparked a comparison of speed, cost and travel time, but it quickly turned into a larger discussion about infrastructure, development and perception.

According to her post, her brother’s experience in China included travelling at 300 km/h, covering 270 km in about one hour and paying approximately Rs 1,600 for the ticket. In contrast, his journey on the Vande Bharat train in India involved a speed of around 95 km/h, covering 260 km in nearly three hours, and paying Rs 1,050 for a Tatkal ticket. The numbers allowed readers to draw their own conclusions.

See more

My brother was on a trip to China and took the first photo there. He took the second photo on the Vande Bharat train.

His experience in China:
~ 300 km/h speed
~ Paid ₹1,600 for 270 km
~ Travel time: ~1 hour

His experience in Bharat:
~ 95 km/h speed
~ Paid ₹1050 for 260 km… pic.twitter.com/NW8q5jGBFN

— Nalini Unagar (@NalinisKitchen) February 27, 2026

Soon after, users began reacting strongly in the comments section. One user, though, resorted to humour to point out the difference, “So your brother got only 1 hour ride in China even after spending Rs 1600 While in India, he got 3 hour ride after spending only Rs 1050. Wow.”

Divided Opinions Take Over Comments

Another comment highlighted the futuristic high-speed rail network of China and wrote, “They are literally living in 2050.” At the same time, other users offered a more balanced view. One comment stated, “We are developing county, soon will reach 300km speed,” pointing out that India is still expanding and modernising its railway infrastructure.

Someone Steps In With A Critical Approach

Someone else stepped in with a critical perspective. In their words, “Only a few cities in China have these kinds of facilities, which they showcase to fool the world. But in places where development is even worse than in India, people are not even allowed to go, especially foreigners.”

 

A bomb threat email warning of an RDX blast at Surat’s Regional Passport Office proved to be a hoax, but was mistakenly forwarded to post offices across Gujarat, triggering panic and heightened security.

The Regional Passport Office in Surat on Friday received a bomb threat which turned out to be a hoax, but the e-mail was mistakenly forwarded to post offices across the state and caused panic, police said.

The Surat Passport Office received an e-mail at 5.55 am threatening that there would be an RDX blast on the premises at 12.10 pm and it should be evacuated, said Assistant Commissioner of Police V R Malhotra.

A team of Umra police station and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot but nothing suspicious was found, he said.

The email was originally received from an Outlook ID only at the Surat Passport Office, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Divyaprakash Gohil.

“Due to a misunderstanding, the entire state’s post offices received the same bomb threat e-mail which led to panic situations and security was stepped up,” he said.

The Surat RPO forwarded the email to the Surat police commissioner’s office with Navsari Division Post Office in the CC, he said.

As to why it was copied to the Navsari post office was not known, Gohil said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujrats-surat-passport-office-bomb-threat-hoax-sparks-statewide-panic-2875717-2026-02-28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that capability does not come suddenly to any country; it is built over generations, and honed by knowledge, tradition, hard work and experience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has discovered its inherent strength in the last 12 years and, following this rising self-confidence, developed nations are coming forward to sign trade deals with the country.

Addressing the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, Modi said even after Independence, some people ensured that the colonial mindset remained for their own benefits.

“No country would have done trade deals with us had we not discovered our inherent strength and strengthened our institutions. Because of this, the developed countries have come forward to sign trade deals (with India),” he said.

The prime minister also said that capability does not come suddenly to any country; it is built over generations, and honed by knowledge, tradition, hard work and experience.

Over the long span of history, centuries of slavery had filled the feeling of the country’s capability with inferiority, and the ideology imported from other countries had deeply ingrained in society the notion that Indians are uneducated and subservient, Modi said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-india-discovered-inherent-internal-strength-in-last-12-years-nations-coming-forward-for-trade-deals-european-union-united-states-2875704-2026-02-28

The Union Home Minister directed strict enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against illegal constructions, particularly in forest and uninhabited areas. He also ordered the immediate removal of encroachments identified on No Man’s Land to safeguard the sanctity of the international border.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting to assess security-related issues concerning the bordering districts along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, with a focus on strengthening border management and addressing emerging security concerns in the region.

During the meeting, discussions underscored the need for enhanced vigilance against illegal activities and coordinated inter-agency action. Key concerns highlighted included illegal constructions near border areas, illegal migration, circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), encroachment, and unauthorized financial flows. The meeting stressed the importance of robust monitoring mechanisms and timely enforcement measures to curb such activities and maintain border integrity.

According to officials, it was decided that following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), all reported death cases will be thoroughly verified through due process. Upon confirmation, necessary deletions and updates will be carried out in relevant official records, including UID databases, driving licences, PAN records, and other applicable government documents to ensure accuracy and prevent misuse. A door-to-door survey will also be undertaken to verify individuals reported as migrated but absent during verification, while ensuring that no genuine voter is erroneously deleted.

The Union Home Minister directed strict enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against illegal constructions, particularly in forest and uninhabited areas. He also ordered the immediate removal of encroachments identified on No Man’s Land to safeguard the sanctity of the international border.

District Magistrates have been assigned enhanced responsibility to ensure legal and financial compliance by all banks, including cooperative banks, within their jurisdictions. All banks have been directed to adhere to compliance norms issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including reporting high-value cash transactions and ensuring PAN linkage with bank accounts. The Chief Secretary will review compliance to ensure strict implementation.

Strict action will be taken against Sub Registrar Offices (SROs) for non-reporting or defective reporting of high-value property transactions or violations involving cash transactions beyond prescribed norms. The State Government will raise the issue in the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) and take up with the RBI the installation of note-sorting machines in all bank branches along the border. Authorities will also work towards ensuring adequate banking penetration in border areas.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/home-minister-amit-shah-reviews-india-nepal-border-security-in-bihar-orders-tighter-vigilance-2875708-2026-02-28

The court asked the state government and the informant, Ashutosh Pandey, to file their replies. Swami Avimukteshwaranand was directed to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation.

The Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the arrest of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and reserved its order on his anticipatory bail plea in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Granting interim relief, the court directed that no coercive action be taken against the spiritual leader until it pronounces its verdict, which is expected in the third week of March.

The order was passed by Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha after a hearing that lasted over an hour in a packed courtroom.

The court asked the state government and the informant, Ashutosh Pandey, also known as Ashutosh Brahmachari, to file their replies. Swami Avimukteshwaranand was directed to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation.

The case was registered at Jhunsi police station on the direction of a Prayagraj POCSO court.

The FIR alleges sexual exploitation of ‘batuks’ (young disciples) by the seer and others during the Magh Mela and Mahakumbh events.

According to the prosecution, the alleged victims have undergone medical examinations and recorded their statements before the authorities.

During the hearing, the maintainability of the anticipatory bail plea became a key point of discussion.

The state government and the complainant’s counsel opposed the application, arguing that the accused had approached the High Court directly without first moving the sessions court.

The bench made pointed observations in this regard. “It may be difficult for us to entertain this,” the court remarked. “You should have first approached sessions court. Why have you come to HC directly?”

The court added, “Though there is no bar on HC entertaining this but it may not be proper. You should have gone to sessions court first”.

In response, counsel for Swami Avimukteshwaranand argued that the High Court and the sessions court enjoy concurrent jurisdiction in anticipatory bail matters, and therefore the plea was maintainable.

The defence also challenged the merits of the allegations. It claimed that one of the alleged victims is an adult as per educational records and is not associated with the ashram.

The defence questioned the delay in lodging the FIR, stating, “The first information regarding the incident of Feb 17 was brought forth by the complainant on Feb 24. Inquiry officer asked what were you doing for all these days? They said hum pooja-paath mein busy thhe”.

Using strong language, the defence submitted, “Their reasoning, their explanation is so absurd!”

It further attacked the credibility of the complainant, saying, “Complainant also has a criminal record himself. He is a history sheeter of A category. The complainant cannot be trusted”.

‘CHARGES FABRICATED, ALL HINDUS HURT’

The techie shared how responding to feedback in an interview was labelled a red flag by the founder.

A tech professional with three years of experience believes a single comment about feedback was seen as a “red flag”, possibly costing a job after hours of interviews.

In a Reddit post, the techie shared about applying for a senior Flutter role with a Europe-based company offering a remote position in India.

“I bombed the interview in the last 10 minutes after spending 10 hrs in the process,” the caption of the post reads.

In the first round, the techie sent a recording explaining his past projects. That was followed by a 20-minute screening call in the second round. After clearing both stages, the techie was shortlisted for an assignment round.

“There were only 5 people who got the assignment,” the post adds.

The techie was given an eight-hour deadline from the time the email was received. The assignment was completed within the deadline, and the techie recieved a detailed feedback.

The last interview was a 30-minute call with the founder. The conversation started well. Several questions were answered, including ones on system design, though some theory details were forgotten. “It was decent,” the techie wrote.

The techie clarified that all the points were accepted and the code would be improved based on the feedback, but there was confusion about one issue. The bug mentioned in the feedback appeared on the web platform and not on mobile, and a suggestion was made that the platform could have been clearly specified.

According to the post, the founder called this a “red flag”, saying it showed an inability to take feedback.

“I am speechless right now, as in the last 10 minutes I think I lost a great opportunity just because I made a suggestion which got taken as criticism,” the post adds.

If elected, Menaka Guruswamy would become the nation’s first openly queer Member of Parliament.

Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal, has nominated senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy and three others for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled to be held on March 16. Apart from Guruswamy, Mamata Banerjee’s party has fielded minister Babul Supriyo, former Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar, and actor Koel Mallick as candidates.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to them. May they continue to uphold Trinamool’s enduring legacy of resilience and its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every Indian,” the party said in its announcement posted on X.

Notably, Guruswamy could become India’s first openly LGBTQ Member of Parliament once elected to the Upper House.

Who is Menaka Guruswamy?

A senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Guruswamy was among the lawyers who argued the historic constitutional case, which resulted in homosexuality being decriminalised in India after Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was struck down in 2018.

She started her career in 1997 under former Attorney General of India Ashok Desai, whom she regards as her mentor. During this time, she worked mainly on litigation and constitutional matters, according to an excerpt from “Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India” by Kiran Manral.

About a year and a half later, she went to Oxford for higher studies. In 2001, after finishing her BCL at Oxford and her LLM from Harvard, she worked briefly as an associate at Davis Polk and Wardwell in New York. She later returned to India and settled in New Delhi.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/menaka-guruswamy-tmc-pick-for-rajya-sabha-could-become-india-first-lgbtq-mp-101772231066851.html

 

Preliminary inquiry suggested that 21-year-old Bonu Komali, a YouTuber as well as a college student, had been in severe emotional distress in recent months. She had sent a message, expressing affection, to her mother before being found dead at her Hyderabad flat.

I’m scared to move on – these are the words from the last entry in the diary of a 21-year-old YouTuber and a college student who was found dead in her rented flat in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Bonu Komali had been in severe emotional distress, having broken up with her boyfriend nearly a year ago. She had sent an affectionate text to her mother, who works in Kuwait, which read cryptic and thus triggered concern. After several calls to Komali went unanswered, the mother alerted the YouTuber’s friends and asked them to check on her.

Upon visiting her flat in Hyderabad’s Manikonda, Komali’s friends found the door locked from inside. They immediately informed the police, who arrived and broke into the place to find the 21-year-old dead.

A diary and several other papers were recovered from the site. The last entry to the diary was on February 21, where Komali described how she was struggling to cope with the breakup.

“I’m scared to move on because what if he comes back? I know I should let go, I know he is not mine, I know he’s not even trying to stay. But a part of me still waits, still hopes, still imagines him choosing me one day. And that’s why moving on feels impossible, because what if the moment I finally walk away, he turns around and looks for me?” the entry read.

Sources told India Today that Komali had recently contacted her ex-boyfriend, asking him to meet her at the flat. A CCTV footage has surfaced of their meeting, showing her standing at the door as the man quietly turns around and leaves.

During the meeting, Komali allegedly requested her ex-boyfriend for reconciliation. However, he declined her request and left the flat.

She had attempted suicide six months before as well, which her mother came to know about later and learnt it was because of relationship failure issues.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/hyderabad/story/hyderabad-bonu-komali-youtuber-science-degree-student-suicide-found-dead-note-mother-brother-boyfriend-emotional-distress-2874811-2026-02-26

The meeting took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day official visit to Israel at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the cast of the acclaimed Israeli series Fauda during his visit to Israel.

Sharing a picture on X, he wrote, “Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work! #Fauda.”

See more

Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work! #Fauda pic.twitter.com/u1tqG3RztB

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026

The meeting took place during his two-day official visit to Israel at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The photograph, which quickly gained traction online, showed PM Modi smiling alongside members of the Fauda star cast.

Avi Issacharoff later shared the same selfie on his X handle and wrote, “It was a rare privilege for the Fauda team to meet today with PM of India Mr ⁦@narendramod_⁩, to learn about the popularity of Fauda in India and discuss future collaboration between the TV industry in Israel and in India. Thank you Mr Modi for visiting Israel!”

See more

It was a rare privilege for the Fauda team to meet today with PM of India Mr ⁦@narendramod_⁩ , to learn about the popularity of Fauda in India and discuss future collaboration between the TV industry in Israel and in India. Thank you Mr Modi for visiting Israel! pic.twitter.com/kJ9ddC8qnY

— avi issacharoff (@issacharoff) February 26, 2026

In another post, he wrote, “We, the Fauda team, Tzachi Levi and Aki Avni, met with the Prime Minister of India, Modi, who spoke about the admiration for Fauda in India. And about the need for collaboration with the film and television industry in India. Modi got a sneak peek at season five.”

See more

נפגשנו אנשי פאודה, צחי הלוי ואקי אבני עם ראש ממשלת הודו, מודי, שסיפר על ההערצה בהודו לפאודה. ועל הצורך בשיתוף פעולה עם תעשיית הקולנוע והטלוויזיה בהודו. מודי קיבל הצצה לעונה חמש 😜 pic.twitter.com/wqeOKR2lWB

— avi issacharoff (@issacharoff) February 26, 2026

Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff, creators and executive producers of Fauda, attended the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to promote season 4.

They were present at the 53rd IFFI in Goa in November 2022 to promote and premiere the first episode of season 4. This marked the Asian debut of the episode ahead of its global Netflix release in 2023.

“When Netflix first bought the show, we started to notice on social media that we were getting so many followers in India,” says Raz, speaking to Deadline on the sidelines of the festival. “We did not know what was happening, but we started to understand that we have a good relationship with the Indian audience.”

About Fauda

Fauda is an action thriller series and follows Doron Kavillio, played by Raz, an undercover Israeli operative who pursues high-value targets in the West Bank and Gaza. The show started in 2015, debuting on Israeli network Yes Oh, and became a global phenomenon after it began streaming on Netflix.

Diplomatic Engagements On Day Two

On Thursday, the second day of his visit, the Prime Minister visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial established in 1953 to commemorate the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. The solemn visit underscored India’s solidarity with the Jewish people and its commitment to remembering the tragedies of history.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/prime-minister-narendra-modi-clicks-selfie-with-fauda-cast-during-israel-visit-11140731?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

DGCA now lets passengers cancel or change tickets within 48 hours without extra fees; airlines must refund in 14 days and fix name errors in 24 hours.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday revised passenger-friendly norms for airline ticket cancellations, changes, and refunds, aiming to make the process simpler and faster.

Under the amended rules, passengers can cancel or change air tickets without paying an additional charge within 48 hours of booking, subject to certain conditions. In addition, the DGCA clarified rules for correcting name errors on tickets.

For tickets booked directly through an airline’s website, passengers can request a correction in the name of the same passenger within 24 hours of booking without any extra charge.

“In case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives. The airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days,” the DGCA said.

The revised norms also include provisions for ticket cancellations due to medical emergencies, ensuring airlines handle such requests promptly and transparently.

The amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on ‘Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings’ come amid rising complaints from passengers about delayed refunds.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/no-extra-charge-for-air-ticket-name-errors-flagged-within-24-hours-dgca-ws-l-9931453.html

State government officials in Kolkata staged a rally and sit-in demanding clearance of 25% backlog Dearness Allowance as per the Supreme Court verdict. Police set up barricades near Indian Museum to stop protesters from reaching Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence. Organizers warned of a larger protest across West Bengal on March 13 if demands are unmet.

Protesting state government officials over Dearness Allowance (DA) issue on Thursday had hit the streets throwing traffic out of gear in the city.

The protestors warned of bigger protests on March 13 across the state if the administration doesn’t hold a meeting with them.

After the rally was taken out from the Esplanade area in central Kolkata, Kolkata police had set up three-tier barricades near the Indian Museum to stop the rally from reaching Kalighat which is the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

See more

#WATCH | Kolkata: Barricading and police forces deployed to stop the protestors holding a rally over not receiving the DA (Dearness Allowance) after the Supreme Court’s order to the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the outstanding DA arrears to its employees by March 31.

DC… https://t.co/yFxUY9oAyE pic.twitter.com/xJn1Y4MX9R

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2026

Despite several requests from the protestors that they want to march till Hazra in south Kolkata near the Chief Minister’s residence the police refused to open the barricades.

After a prolonged agitation and sit-in-demonstration the protestors wanted to meet the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty so that Supreme Court’s verdict of clearing 25 per cent of backlog DA can be implemented.

Bhaskar Ghosh, convenor of the protestors said that almost 100 organizations cutting across the political hues had joined the protest demanding clearing of backlog DA.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/west-bengal-news-da-protestors-warn-of-bigger-protest-on-march-13

 

The closed-door meeting comes days after over 20 Karnataka Congress legislators travelled abroad, even as the party leadership continues to publicly deny any internal rift or power-sharing arrangement.

Around 30 Congress MLAs, including two ministers, from the camp of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar met at a private hotel in Bengaluru, triggering fresh political speculation within the ruling party.

Sources told India Today TV that the meeting, held under the pretext of celebrating an MLA’s birthday, saw discussions around the ongoing leadership churn within the Karnataka Congress. Legislators are understood to have informally deliberated on possible next steps and are closely watching the party high command in New Delhi for any signal.

The gathering assumed significance amid persistent buzz over a potential power tussle in the state unit, though the Congress leadership has repeatedly denied any internal rift.

Among those present were D Sudhakar, Magadi Balakrishna, CP Yogeshwar, Kadalur Uday, Ravi Ganiga, Basavaraj Shivaganga, Nayama Mottamma, Sharath Bachegowda, Kunigal Ranganath, Prakash Kolivada, Anekal Shivanna and Venkatesh Pavagada.

The closed-door meeting comes days after more than 20 Congress legislators from Karnataka travelled to Australia and New Zealand, a trip that also drew political attention amid leadership speculation.

The legislators, some of whom are considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, are expected to return to Bengaluru on March 1. Participants described the visit as a study tour focused on agriculture, though at least one MLA said he was funding the travel personally.

Sindhanur MLA Hampanagouda Badarli had maintained the tour was purely personal and not politically driven.

Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed reports of any leadership confusion, asserting that the party high command had created no uncertainty and that any issues should be handled by the state leadership.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-power-tussle-30-mlas-of-dk-shivakumar-camp-huddle-at-bengaluru-hotel-2875105-2026-02-26

Amid rising fears that AI could disrupt white-collar jobs in India, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has urged youngsters not to panic. Here is everything he said about this in a recent interview.

A few months after his remarks on a 70-hour workweek sparked a nationwide debate, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has offered a fresh message to young Indians. This time on AI and the growing fear that machines could replace white-collar jobs. As anxiety mounts across global and Indian markets over how quickly AI tools are advancing, Murthy has urged youngsters not to panic, but to prepare.

Master AI or miss out: Narayana Murthy’s advice to India’s youth on career

It is against this backdrop of uncertainty that Murthy likely addressed concerns around AI and employment. Speaking about his own use of generative AI, the Infosys founder argued that technology does not automatically level the playing field. Instead, it rewards those who think better and learn faster. “My own experiments with using generative AI for productivity have shown me that a smarter mind will get better quality and better level of productivity from using these assistive technologies,” Murthy told Money Control.

He added that young people should not see AI as an enemy, but as a tool that must be understood and used wisely. According to Murthy, the responsibility lies with individuals to master these technologies, use them in an assistive manner and combine them with discipline, hard work and continuous learning. “Therefore, there is no need for youngsters to get worried,” he said.

The discussion around AI-led job losses has sharpened in recent days following a series of high-profile launches by US-based AI firm Anthropic. The company has been rolling out workplace-focused tools under its Claude platform that allow organisations to automate tasks across areas such as legal work, finance, human resources, engineering and operations. These tools can plug into widely used software, carry context across documents and assist in complex workflows that traditionally required large teams.

The rapid pace of these developments has unsettled investors. Software and IT services stocks have been under pressure amid concerns that AI could eat into long-running consulting and modernisation work. That unease came into sharp focus earlier this week when IBM shares fell sharply in a single session, which were their steepest one-day decline in over two decades.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/jobs/story/after-70-hr-work-call-narayana-murthy-has-an-ai-warning-for-youngsters-in-india-tchc-2874854-2026-02-26

It is mandatory for an aircraft to have cockpit voice and flight data recorders, popularly known as black box, but the ill-fated 40-year-old Beechcraft C90A aircraft was issued an airworthiness certificate back in 1987 when the rule was not in place.

The air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand on Monday killing seven people had no cockpit voice or flight data recorders, DGCA said on Wednesday.

It is mandatory for an aircraft to have cockpit voice and flight data recorders, popularly known as black box, but the ill-fated 40-year-old Beechcraft C90A aircraft was issued an airworthiness certificate back in 1987 when the rule was not in place.

While the aircraft’s airworthiness review certificate was valid till January 20, 2027, the mandate to have black box is meant for those aircraft that got the airworthiness certificate on or after January 1, 2016.

The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The service was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.

The victims have been identified as crew members Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, patient Sanjay Kumar, doctor Vikash Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, and attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/jharkhand-air-ambulance-crash-40-year-old-aircraft-had-no-black-box-3911630

Prime Minister Modi was conferred with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal’ on Wednesday in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that the conferment of the ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’ on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Israel highlights his statesmanship, which is fostering connections between nations for mutual empowerment and advancing the welfare of humanity.

In a message on X, Shah said, “Congratulations PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being honoured with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal by the State of Israel.

See more

Congratulations PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being honored with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal by the State of Israel.

It is a moment of immense pride for every Indian, as it exemplifies our PM’s statesmanship that is shaping bridges between nations for mutual empowerment to… pic.twitter.com/bzjjR61qd2

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 25, 2026

“It is a moment of immense pride for every Indian, as it exemplifies our PM’s statesmanship that is shaping bridges between nations for mutual empowerment to advance the cause of humankind for the welfare of all,” Shah said.

Prime Minister Modi was conferred with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal’ on Wednesday in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.

He is the first leader to receive this medal, which is the highest honour of the Knesset – the Israeli Parliament.

This visit marks Modi’s second trip to Israel in nine years.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana presented the award to the prime minister following his address at the Israeli Parliament.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/israel-honouring-pm-modi-with-speaker-of-the-knesset-medal-moment-of-pride-for-indians-amit-shah-3912062 

In Chapter 4, the Class 8 Social Sciences textbook outlines structural challenges facing courts, including judge shortages, procedural complexity and infrastructure gaps, and links these issues to concerns about public confidence in the justice system.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has apologised for what it described as a “purely unintentional” inclusion of ‘inappropriate material” in a Class 8 Social Science textbook, after the Supreme Court sharply criticised a chapter referring to judicial corruption and ordered the book’s distribution to be halted.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NCERT said that certain “inappropriate textual material” had inadvertently appeared in Chapter 4, The Role of Judiciary in our Society, of the newly-released Social Science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II.

“The error is purely unintentional and NCERT regrets the inclusion of inappropriate material in the said chapter. NCERT reiterates that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect, and informed understanding of democratic participation amongst students,” it said.

Following observations by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, NCERT said it immediately placed the textbook’s distribution on hold and removed it from circulation.

The chapter will now be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities and republished for students from the 2026–27 academic session.

NCERT emphasised that it holds the judiciary in the “highest esteem” as the guardian of the Constitution and protector of fundamental rights, adding that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy and institutional respect among students.

“There is no intent to question or diminish the authority of any constitutional body,” the council said.

“As part of its continuous review process, NCERT remains open to constructive feedback… NCERT, once again, regrets this error of judgement and apologises while re-iterating our resolve to continuously work for institutional sanctity and respect,” it added.

The controversy erupted on Wednesday after a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant took suo motu cognisance of the issue after it was mentioned for urgent hearing by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi.

Expressing strong displeasure, the Chief Justice described the textbook content as a serious matter and said the court would not allow any attempt to defame or question the integrity of the judiciary.

He noted that he had received numerous messages, including from High Court judges, raising concern over the references.

THE TEXTBOOK CONTROVERSY

The Class 8 Social Science textbook includes a section discussing corruption within the judiciary alongside India’s mounting case backlog.

In Chapter 4, The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society, the book outlines structural challenges facing courts, including judge shortages, procedural complexity and infrastructure gaps, and links these issues to concerns about public confidence in the justice system.

References to how corruption can affect judicial credibility triggered objections from the judiciary.

The chapter also presents data on pendency, stating that the Supreme Court of India has roughly 81,000 pending cases.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ncert-apologises-judicial-corruption-chapter-class-8-social-sciences-textbook-pulls-out-book-supreme-court-criticism-2874490-2026-02-26

The judge underscored that incidents of this nature cannot be treated as mere contractual violations. “It is high time that the citizens of Delhi are no longer taken for granted and that their lives are valued,” the court said, adding that the loss of an innocent young life must be acknowledged and those responsible brought to book.

The Delhi High Court has refused anticipatory bail to two contractors accused in the Jankapuri open pit case, observing that the young man’s death was the result of gross negligence and a complete disregard of duty. The court further remarked that “public roads can’t be turned into death traps” and that “the lives of citizens cannot be left to the mercy of God while excavation work is carried out on busy roads without basic safety measures.”

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma denied pre-arrest bail to contractors Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta in connection with the death of a young biker who fell into a deep pit, measured approximately 20 feet in length, 13 feet in width and 14 feet in depth, allegedly dug in the middle of a public road without barricades, warning signs or blinkers. The excavation, the judge noted, was carried out in violation of work permit conditions, tender terms and traffic police permissions. No safety equipment mandated under the contract was deployed at the site.

“When a pit of such dimensions is dug in the centre of a busy road in utter violation of the conditions, and when no blinkers, barricades or safety measures are provided, it would inevitably result in an untoward incident,” the court observed.

The judge underscored that incidents of this nature cannot be treated as mere contractual violations. “It is high time that the citizens of Delhi are no longer taken for granted and that their lives are valued,” the court said, adding that the loss of an innocent young life must be acknowledged and those responsible brought to book.

“If contractors engaged in public works on behalf of the State are permitted to escape the rigour of law without fear of consequences, it would endanger the lives of citizens at large. Courts, even while considering bail applications, cannot remain oblivious to their social duty and the impact their orders may have on societal conscience,” the court said.

“A lenient approach in the facts and circumstances of the present case would send an alarming message of indifference towards accountability of those who, prima facie, convert public roads into death traps, reduce human life to collateral damage of contractual work, and seek to evade responsibility thereafter,” the court added.

The court also took note of the conduct of the accused and the alleged sub-contractor after the accident. Referring to the status report, it observed that the sub-contractor had informed the primary contractor about the incident the same night. However, neither the police were informed nor immediate medical assistance arranged for the victim.

“What further shakes the conscience of this Court is the apparent attempt to shield themselves,” the judge remarked, citing CCTV footage and call detail record (CDR) analysis that allegedly suggest hurried placement of signage and barricades at the site after the incident. The court noted that such conduct prima facie indicated awareness of the requirement to install safety measures and of the danger posed by an unattended, deeply dug pit.

The High Court further observed that when the Delhi Jal Board awarded the contract for sewage work on a public road, it also entrusted a public duty upon the contractor to strictly adhere to mandated safety precautions. Excavating a 14-foot-deep pit in complete violation of the conditions, the court said, revealed not only negligence but knowledge of a high probability of human injury or death.

While acknowledging the settled principles governing grant of bail, the court held that societal interest cannot be ignored in cases involving gross disregard for human life. It noted that non-bailable warrants were issued against the applicants on February 9, 2026, and that the investigation is ongoing, with evidence yet to be recovered and at this stage, granting anticipatory bail could hamper effective investigation and lead to tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jankapuri-biker-death-result-of-gross-negligence-delhi-high-court-denies-bail-to-contractors-2874486-2026-02-26

The case relates to the alleged defrauding of a senior citizen from Kottayam district in Kerala. According to investigators, detailed digital forensics and financial trail analysis exposed a network operating across several states.

In a coordinated nationwide sweep, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches across six states and arrested three suspects in connection with a Rs 1.86 crore ‘digital arrest’ fraud that targeted a senior citizen in Kerala.

The agency said the case involved mule bank accounts, shell companies and fraudulently procured SIM cards, adding it could have possible international linkages.

The case relates to the alleged defrauding of a senior citizen from Kottayam district in Kerala. According to investigators, detailed digital forensics and financial trail analysis exposed a network operating across several states.

On February 25, the CBI carried out synchronised searches across Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana and Delhi. The probe agency said it targeted two key components of the alleged scheme: mule bank account networks and illegally obtained SIM cards.

During the searches, officials seized digital devices, debit cards, bank account documents and other materials, later describing them as incriminating.

An alleged mule account operator, identified as Blessin Jacob Abraham, was arrested from a hotel in Goa. The CBI said he is suspected to have played a key role in operating mule accounts and facilitating cryptocurrency transactions linked to the fraud.

Several digital devices were recovered from him.

In Nagpur, Mohammad Mushtaque, who has been described as a “shell company operator” by the CBI, was arrested. He allegedly managed mule accounts through a shell company to receive proceeds of the crime.

Investigators said multiple debit cards and digital devices were seized from premises linked to him.

The third accused, Mohammad Junaid, was arrested from Bengaluru. He is alleged to have fraudulently procured SIM cards by offering “5G SIM upgrades” to unsuspecting individuals.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/digital-arrest-scam-cbi-arrests-3-in-nationwide-raids-after-high-value-fraud-2874481-2026-02-26

Rahul Gandhi has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap the India-US interim trade deal, accusing him of secretly visiting Israel amid the controversy.

In a fresh escalation of the war of words over the India-US interim trade deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying more than 24 hours had passed since he challenged him to scrap the agreement and that he had “quietly slipped off to Israel”.

The BJP responded swiftly, accusing Gandhi of dragging India’s image abroad and claiming the prime minister was strengthening national security ties during his visit.

RAHUL’S SWIPE OVER TRADE DEAL

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi wrote, “Narendra ‘Surrender’ Modi, it’s been more than 24 hours since I challenged you to cancel the US Trade Deal, and once again, you’ve quietly slipped off to Israel.”

“At least once, you’ve already ‘danced and sung’ in Israel at Epstein’s behest, so this time, on whose orders will you strike a deal against the country’s interests and return?” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

See more

नरेंद्र “सरेंडर” मोदी, आपको US Trade Deal रद्द करने की चुनौती दिए हुए 24 घंटे से ज़्यादा हो गए – आप फिर खामोशी से Israel निकल गए।

एक बार तो आप Epstein के कहने पर Israel में ‘dance and sing’ कर ही चुके – अबकी बार वहां किसके कहने पर देश के हितों के ख़िलाफ़ सौदा कर के आएंगे?… pic.twitter.com/EpvXFOelcJ

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 25, 2026

The remarks came a day after Gandhi, speaking at a ‘Kisan Mahachaupal’ rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Tuesday, described the Indo-US interim trade deal as “an arrow in the heart of farmers”.

“After the US Supreme Court ruling on the trade deal global tariffs, I challenge PM Modi to scrap it if he has courage but he won’t be able to do so,” Gandhi had said, alleging that the agreement was sealed under pressure.

He has also claimed that the prime minister approved the pact under external pressure linked to the threat of releasing “Epstein files” and an ongoing criminal case involving industrialist Gautam Adani in the US.

BJP HITS BACK

The BJP countered that the prime minister was “addressing the Knesset in Israel and securing India with technologies like the ‘Sudarshan Chakra’”.

National spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on X that Modi “doesn’t go on secret vacations in Thailand and Colombia and project the country in poor light like you do”.

Bhatia also asked Gandhi to disclose details of the memorandum of understanding the Congress had signed with the Chinese Communist Party a few years ago.

“Why is it that you have a secret friendship with China and are so resentful of India’s progress?” he asked, adding, “Modi is elevating the country’s reputation on the world stage, while you and your clan only conspire to defame India on international forums.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/already-sang-and-danced-rahul-gandhi-jabs-pm-over-israel-trip-bjp-hits-back-2874457-2026-02-26

 

Nearly 109 years ago, in 1917, as the world was in the grip of war and imperial administration stretched thin, the British government reportedly borrowed Rs 35,000 from Seth Jummalal Ruthia.

The British Empire once prided itself on being the realm where the sun never set. But in the quiet town of Sehore in Madhya Pradesh, a forgotten piece of paper suggests that even the mighty Empire once needed a sunrise loan from a wealthy local businessman.

Nearly 109 years ago, in 1917, as the world was in the grip of war and imperial administration stretched thin, the British government reportedly borrowed Rs 35,000 from Seth Jummalal Ruthia, one of the wealthiest and most influential businessmen of Sehore and the Bhopal princely state. The amount was enormous by the standards of that era, enough to alter fortunes, shape estates, and command influence in royal and colonial circles.

What makes the story extraordinary is not the loan itself, but what followed or rather, what did not. According to the Ruthia family, the money was never repaid.

Now, more than a century later, Seth Jummalal’s grandson, Vivek Ruthia, says he is preparing to send a legal notice to the British government to recover what he calls a “historic and unpaid sovereign debt.”

Speaking about the discovery, Vivek Ruthia claims the family recently found documentary evidence, including certificates and correspondence among old records and a family will after his father’s death. “In 1917, my grandfather, the late Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia, loaned Rs 35,000 to the British government. That amount has not been repaid to this day,” he said.

According to him, the documents suggest the loan was taken to streamline administrative management in the Bhopal princely state during British rule and was named as a war loan.

Seth Jummalal Ruthia died in 1937, nearly 20 years after the loan was extended. The matter, the family claims, remained unsettled and gradually slipped into obscurity until now.

The figure of Rs 35,000 in 1917 may appear modest by modern standards, but Vivek Ruthia argues that its present-day value would run into crores.

“If you calculate the amount based on the gold price of 1917 and compare it to today’s rate, the figure becomes significantly higher,” he says. In other words, what once may have financed wartime administration could now be worth a fortune.

The family is reportedly preparing to invoke principles of international law, arguing that sovereign nations are, in theory, obligated to honor previously incurred debts. Legal experts say that while such cases are rare and complex, historical claims backed by documentary evidence can open unusual legal debates, especially when they involve pre-independence transactions between colonial authorities and private individuals.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/biritsh-rajs-unpaid-bill-family-demands-rs-35-000-borrowed-100-years-ago-11135767?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested former branch manager Ribhav Rishi, former relationship manager Abhay, Ribhav’s wife, Swati Singla, and her brother, Abhishek Singla.

Behind the Rs 590-crore fraud at IDFC FIRST Bank’s Chandigarh branch was a former branch manager, and funds from Haryana government departments’ accounts were funnelled into an account belonging to a company run by the former manager’s wife and brother-in-law, the investigation into the shocking case has found.

Haryana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has made four arrests in the case so far: former branch manager Ribhav Rishi, the bank’s former relationship manager Abhay, Ribhav’s wife, Swati Singla, and her brother, Abhishek Singla.

AS Chawla, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, said Ribhav and Abhay are the main accused in the case. Both of them quit their jobs at the branch around six months ago.

A sum of nearly Rs 300 crore was transferred to a company called Swastik Desh Projects. While Swati holds 75 per cent of the company’s shares, Abhishek holds the remaining 25 per cent. The accused will now be produced in court.

How The Fraud Came To Light

Earlier this week, IDFC FIRST Bank disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had detected a fraud of about Rs 590 crore involving certain Haryana government-linked accounts operated through its Chandigarh branch. The bank said the fraud was prima facie the result of unauthorised and fraudulent activities carried out by some employees at the branch, possibly involving other individuals.

The bank said the fraud surfaced when a Haryana government department requested closure and transfer of its account balance to another bank. During the process, bank officials found discrepancies between the amount mentioned in the records and the actual balance. Similar discrepancies were identified in other Haryana government-linked accounts.

What Investigators Said

The main accused (Ribhav and Abhay) made the master plan, Chawla said. “A sum of Rs 300 crore went to Swastik Desh Projects and it was forwarded from there. It is surprising that the IDFC FIRST Bank branch is in Chandigarh, the Haryana government departments are in state territory, and the AU Small Finance Bank, where the money was transferred, has its branch in Mohali,” he said.

“We questioned the senior management whether they checked how a government account was being opened outside the state territory. They told us this problem because of the proximity of the three cities, and two states and one Union Territory are involved,” he said.

“We assure you we will take strict action against everyone who is involved in this. The investigation is in a preliminary stage now. The modus operandi has come before us, but we cannot share details without cross-verification,” Chawla said.

What Bank Has Said

Amid the investigation, the bank has said it has already repaid 100 per cent of the amount claimed by Haryana government departments.

In a statement published in newspapers today, the bank has said it always upholds the highest principles and standards.

“Now was the occasion to stand up and deliver when it truly matters and put our CUSTOMER FIRST principles in action. We are a principle-based bank, and mean it. We did not hold up the payment on account of the matter being under investigation. This is the DNA of IDFC FIRST Bank,” the bank said in its statement.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/idfc-first-bank-fraud-how-an-ex-branch-manager-masterminded-590-crore-fraud-at-idfc-first-bank-11134471?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Instagram in 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has crossed a major digital milestone, becoming the first world leader and politician to amass 100 million followers on Instagram, underlining his unmatched presence on social media platforms globally.

He joined Instagram in 2014, and over the last decade his account has grown steadily, emerging as one of the most followed and engaged political profiles in the world.

The platform has been used to share glimpses of official engagements, international visits, public outreach initiatives, cultural moments, and personal reflections, helping him connect with a wide and diverse audience.

See more See more

With this achievement, PM Modi now ranks number one among global leaders on Instagram, maintaining a significant lead over his international counterparts. The Prime Minister’s follower count is more than double that of US President Donald Trump, who holds the second position with 43.2 million followers.

Other world leaders trail far behind, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto with 15 million followers, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with 14.4 million, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with 11.6 million, and Argentine President Javier Milei with 6.4 million followers.

Notably, the combined follower count of the next five major world leaders remains lower than PM Modi’s individual total, highlighting the scale of his digital reach and influence. Observers point out that the Prime Minister’s Instagram presence resonates strongly with younger audiences, both in India and abroad, reflecting changing modes of political communication in the digital age.

The gap is equally striking within India’s political landscape. PM Modi is far ahead of all other Indian political leaders on Instagram. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath occupies the second spot with around 16.1 million followers, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi follows with approximately 12.6 million followers. The difference underscores the Prime Minister’s dominant position on social media platforms among domestic political figures.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-becomes-first-world-leader-to-cross-100-million-followers-on-instagram-11137658?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

The woman was told that she ‘overstayed’ in India and getting paid while working from India for a US company is against US law.

A Reddit user on an H-1B visa has alleged that her visa was abruptly cancelled at the Abu Dhabi preclearance facility while she was returning to the United States with her husband in January. She said she had travelled to India in November to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday. According to her post, there were no problems with visa stamping because their appointments had been booked before mid-December 2025, prior to the wave of reported disruptions in US visa processing.

While her husband was cleared without any difficulty, she was stopped during preclearance questioning. She was asked about the length of her stay in India and whether she had continued working during that period. The woman explained that she had remained in India for about two months and that the trip was a mix of vacation and limited work. Although she was officially on paid time off, she admitted she had worked partially while abroad.

She was then directed to secondary inspection, where officers asked her to provide documentation showing that remote work from India was permitted under her Labor Condition Application (LCA). She said that such a provision was not included in her paperwork.

According to her account, officials accused her of effectively “overstaying” in India and stated that drawing a salary from a US employer while working from India violated US regulations. Her visa was subsequently stamped “Cancelled and Withdrawn,” and she was told she would need to apply again.

However, she claimed there are currently no available visa appointment slots, leaving her stranded. Her company’s immigration attorney has reportedly advised that remote work from India is not unlawful. The woman said she is under significant stress and is seeking advice on her next steps.

US-based entrepreneur James Blunt weighed in on the situation, describing it as a “221(i) visa cancellation at preclearance.” He noted that officers from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) exercise extremely broad discretion at ports of entry.

See more

Assuming this H-1B visa cancellation is a real Reddit post:

This looks like a 221(i) visa cancellation at preclearance.

CBP has EXTREMELY BROAD discretion at ports of entry (including Abu Dhabi preclearance). They do not have to prove a violation the way USCIS does during… pic.twitter.com/Hd76JvynQP

— James Blunt (@JBlunt1018) February 24, 2026

Under US immigration rules, CBP officers are not bound by the same evidentiary standards that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) follows when adjudicating H-1B petitions.

Blunt questioned why travellers continue to make nonessential trips amid heightened scrutiny, pointing out that even pro-immigration advocates have cautioned against it. He advised H-1B holders to avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/woman-claims-h-1b-visa-was-cancelled-for-overstaying-in-india-us-entrepreneur-reacts-11135901?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

The three Congress workers were detained from Rohru in Shimla district early on Wednesday by a team from the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

The standoff between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police over the arrest of three Youth Congress workers linked to the AI Impact Summit protest came to an end after a dramatic 24 hours on Thursday morning, after the Delhi Police team was finally cleared to head back to the national capital with the arrested individuals.

In the 24-hour stalemate, the Delhi Police team was “detained” for about five hours even after procuring the transit remand from the ACJM, news agency PTI reported.

On Wednesday evening, the issue escalated after Himachal Pradesh Police registered a kidnapping case against the Delhi Police personnel and “detained” their vehicles at the Shogi border near Shimla.

The three workers were detained from Rohru in Shimla district early on Wednesday by a team from the Special Cell of Delhi Police. According to Delhi Police sources, the team was returning with the accused to the national capital when they were stopped by Himachal Police in Solan district.

Himachal Police had intercepted the Delhi team at Dharampur and called the detention “illegal”. The three workers were subsequently brought back to Shimla and are being produced before a local court as per legal procedure.

See more

VIDEO | Shimla: A jurisdiction dispute has erupted after the Delhi Police detained three Youth Congress workers in connection with an AI Summit protest pic.twitter.com/H7o7eaYOb8

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 25, 2026

Based on a complaint, Shimla Police registered an FIR at Chirgaon Police Station. It was alleged that 15–20 unidentified persons in plain clothes arrived at a resort in Mandli, Chirgaon, and forcibly took away three guests staying there.

The complainant also alleged that a Thar vehicle belonging to the guests was taken and that the DVR of CCTV cameras at the resort was removed without any seizure memo.

However, Delhi Police sources said the Special Cell team was carrying out lawful action in connection with the AI Summit protest case and alleged that their officers were obstructed while performing official duty.

Following the interception in Solan, the Special Cell registered a cross FIR, accusing Himachal Police of obstructing government work.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/himachal-police-vs-delhi-police-over-arrest-of-3-youth-congress-workers-ws-l-9929669.html

 

The baby was born just before Christmas 2025 at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in west London.

A tiny baby named Hugo is making medical history in the UK. The 10-week-old boy is the first child in the country to be born using a womb transplanted from a deceased donor. His birth marks a major milestone in a national clinical research trial focused on womb transplantation.

Hugo was born just before Christmas 2025 at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in west London. At the time of the birth, the baby weighed nearly 7lbs. His mother, Grace Bell, who is in her 30s, was born without a viable womb. For her, this journey once felt impossible. Describing the experience, Grace said, “It was simply a miracle,” as quoted by the BBC.

Her womb transplant surgery took place in June 2024 at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford. The complex procedure lasted 10 hours. After recovering from the transplant, Grace and her partner underwent IVF treatment. Embryo transfer was later carried out at The Lister Fertility Clinic in London. These carefully scheduled steps, including a transplant, IVF and embryo transfer, ultimately led to Hugo’s birth.

When she first got the call that a womb had become available, Grace said she was “in complete shock” and “really excited.” She has been open about how emotional the experience has been. Speaking about the first moments after Hugo’s birth, she said, “I remember waking up in the morning and seeing his little face, with his little dummy in, and it felt like I needed to wake up from a dream.”

For her, “It was just incredible.”

UK Mom Pays Tribute To Donor

Grace and her partner, Steve Powell (also referred to as Steven Powell), have paid tribute to the donor and her family. They described the donation as an “incredible gift” and thanked them for their “kindness and selflessness.” Grace said she thinks about the donor and her family every day and prays they find peace in knowing their daughter gave the biggest gift of life.

The surgical team involved called the birth “a ground-breaking moment,” saying the milestone will offer hope to many more women with similar diagnoses.

The viral video claims thousands of Indian parents are choosing homeschooling over traditional schools, citing rote learning, exam pressure and bullying.

Homeschooling is steadily gaining traction in India, with more families opting to educate their children outside the traditional school system. The shift has now gone viral after an Instagram reel by content creator Shobhit Bakliwal highlighted why many Indian parents are choosing this alternative path.

In the video shared on Instagram, Bakliwal claims that “thousands of families” have decided not to send their children to school, citing concerns such as rote learning, bullying, long commutes and exam pressure.

“They tried the system, it failed them. It only offered rote learning, bullying, endless commutes and exam pressure that crushes joy. So they flipped it,” he said in the clip, adding that homeschooling is “completely legal” in India.

How It Started?

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in accelerating this transition. When schools shut down and children were forced to study from home, several parents realised that home-based learning worked better for their children. Many, he claimed, chose not to send them back even after schools reopened.

Bakliwal also pointed out that homeschooling is no longer limited to affluent families with access to private tutors. Middle-class households, he said, are increasingly exploring the model to focus on practical skills such as coding, entrepreneurship and content creation rather than textbook memorisation. “So what are these kids doing? They’re building apps, starting YouTube channels, learning coding and business while other kids sit in assembly,” he said.

He further noted that institutions such as the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) support alternative education pathways, while international boards like Cambridge Assessment International Education offer IGCSE examinations that homeschoolers can appear for as private candidates.

Calling it a “growing trend,” Bakliwal suggested that a new industry is emerging around homeschooling, including curriculum providers, tutors, online platforms and parent-training services. “If you can help these parents homeschool better, you can make your generational wealth with it,” he concluded.

See more

Internet Users Share Experiences

 

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/rahul-gandhi-a-national-spokesperson-of-anti-india-forces-up-dy-cm-brajesh-pathak-3910696Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Tuesday, Pathak said, “Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have reached a level of falsehood, a level from which there is no return.”

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday slammed Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “national spokesperson of anti-India forces”, amid the latter’s video message in which he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sold the country’s interests under the Indo-US trade deal.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Tuesday, Pathak said, “Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have reached a level of falsehood, a level from which there is no return. The baseless allegations Rahul Gandhi makes against Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India every day, and the venom he spews on social media, are not only condemnable but also constitute treason.” “Today, the country is witnessing how far Rahul Gandhi’s political standards have fallen. His sole objective now is to utter lies after lies, incite the public, spread anarchy, and undermine India’s strength,” Pathak said.

In a post on X on February 23, the Congress leader had also claimed that Modi is unable to sleep at night due to a court case against industrialist Gautam Adani in the United States and alleged that it is a case against the ruling BJP and its financial architecture.

The video message posted on X was in response to Modi’s “shameless politics” attack on Congress in connection with the Indian Youth Congress’ “shirtless” protest during the AI summit in Delhi.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/rahul-gandhi-a-national-spokesperson-of-anti-india-forces-up-dy-cm-brajesh-pathak-3910696

Underscoring the idea that the re-naming is a big political move ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, she alleged that the Centre remembers Bengal only during elections.

The Centre’s move to rename Kerala has had ripples in distant West Bengal, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the government of being anti-Bengal. Underscoring the idea that the re-naming is a big political move ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, she alleged that the Centre remembers Bengal only during elections. Government sources, however, have refuted the allegations, listing the reasons for the Centre’s refusal to rename Bengal.

Sources said the most important reason to turn down the latest name suggested – Bangla — is that the name is similar to Bangladesh and may cause confusion in the international community regarding the name of this major state of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also expressed its views on this matter.

In 2016, the West Bengal government had proposed three names: Bangla in Bengali, Bengal in English, and Bangal in Hindi.

The Central government had rejected this proposal, pointing out that the same state cannot have three different names in three different languages. The name should be consistent across all languages.
Mamata Banerjee had proposed changing the state’s name after assuming power for the first time in 2011.

At the time, she proposed changing West Bengal’s name to Paschim Banga or Paschim Bango.

This was rejected, citing it as a minor change.

The Central government has also argued that changing the name of a vast state like West Bengal involves a lengthy process.

It requires consultation with various departments, including the Railways, the Postal Department, and the Ministry of Aviation, as the state’s name is changed in all records. Additionally, a bill must be passed in Parliament with a simple majority to change the name.

Government sources, however, said there is a significant political reason behind not changing West Bengal’s name.

In the British period, then Viceroy Lord Curzon had split Bengal in East and West Bengal – ostensibly to aid the administration of a large province. But he had to roll back the move afer massive protests.

After the partition of India in 1947, the eastern part of Bengal went to Pakistan and was known as east Pakistan.

In 1971, after the Bangladesh war, it became Bangladesh. India, still, retained the name West Bengal as a nod to history.

Mamata Banerjee has argued that since there is no longer an East Bengal, there is no point in using “West” before “Bengal”.

She also wants to change the name because, according to her, with the state’s name beginning with a “W”, Bengal comes last in any state-specific event, including Chief Ministers’ conference.

In competitions, the state’s children compete last and are often exhausted by then.

Citing this, Banerjee had launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah earlier today.

Declaring that she has raised the issue whenever she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said, “Much to my surprise, nothing has happened”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-changing-west-bengals-name-will-not-be-easy-11131943?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Congress MLAs held placards with various issues and raised slogans against the ruling BJP government. They alleged corruption in MNREGA, irregularities in paddy procurement, poor condition of sports stadiums and neglect of athletes, irregularities in the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), farmers’ problems, unemployment and job crisis and the drug problem.

Alleging rampant corruption under the BJP rule, the Congress MLAs, who were led by leader of Opposition (LoP) Bhupender Singh Hooda, on Tuesday took out a protest march to the assembly.

Congress state president Rao Narendra Singh and several other senior leaders also took part in the protest march which began from the High Court chowk.

See more

आज सभी विधायकों के साथ मिलकर जनविरोधी भाजपा सरकार के खिलाफ हाईकोर्ट चौक से विधानसभा तक रोष प्रदर्शन किया।

​हरियाणा की जनता आज अनगिनत समस्याओं से त्रस्त है, जबकि भाजपा सरकार केवल झूठे वादों और खोखले दावों का झुनझुना बजाने में व्यस्त है।

प्रदर्शन में मुख्य रूप से निम्नलिखित… pic.twitter.com/QrmH3l8kr9

— Bhupinder Singh Hooda (@BhupinderShooda) February 24, 2026

The Congress MLAs held placards with various issues and raised slogans against the ruling BJP government. They alleged corruption in MNREGA, irregularities in paddy procurement, poor condition of sports stadiums and neglect of athletes, irregularities in the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), farmers’ problems, unemployment and job crisis and the drug problem.

While addressing newspersons, the two-time chief minister, Hooda said that the BJP government has failed on every front.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bhupender-singh-hooda-leads-congress-protest-march-to-haryana-assembly

 

What is Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed Hexagon of Alliances? What is India’s role in it? What does it mean ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit? Explained

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed the ‘Hexagon of Alliances’, a strategic framework designed to formalise a network of allied nations to counter regional threats.

Netanyahu’s vision positions India as a cornerstone of the new bloc. What is it? Who are the partners? News18 explains.

PM Modi’s Israel visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Israel on February 25, 2026 for a historic two-day state visit. This marks his first visit to the country in nearly nine years and his second overall since the landmark 2017 trip.

PM Modi is expected to become the first Indian leader to address the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). Immediately upon landing in Tel Aviv, he will hold a private meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he has frequently described as a “dear friend”.

Discussions will focus on high-tech cooperation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. The visit coincides with reports of massive new arms deals worth approximately $8.6 billion, including precision-guided bombs and advanced missile systems. Both leaders are expected to set a roadmap for finalizing a Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2026. Discussions will also cover the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a strategic transit project aimed at connecting India to European markets via Israel.

What is the Hexagon of Alliances?

The ‘Hexagon’ refers to a six-sided system of alliances involving:

Israel: Central coordinator

India: Strategic anchor and global power

Mediterranean Partners: Specifically Greece and Cyprus

Arab Nations

African Nations

Asian Nations

Why the alliance?

The alliance aims to institutionalise coordination across three main pillars:

Security: Deepening intelligence sharing and defense cooperation against common “radical” adversaries.

Diplomatic Alignment: Creating an “axis of nations” that share similar strategic assessments of regional challenges.

Economic Cooperation: Enhancing trade, technology partnerships (especially in AI and quantum computing), and infrastructure connectivity similar to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Hexagon will counter…

Netanyahu explicitly framed the bloc as a counterweight to what he described as:

The ‘Radical Shia Axis’: Led by Iran and its network of proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The “Emerging Radical Sunni Axis”: A newer framing intended to address emerging extremist threats in the region.

By anchoring India to Greece and Cyprus, the alliance creates a powerful maritime front that opposes Turkey’s claims over Eastern Mediterranean oil and gas reserves.

The analysis

Analysts have described the proposal as a “branding exercise” to formalise existing ad hoc relationships and project that Israel is not diplomatically isolated.

While India values its friendship with Israel, it remains highly pragmatic and typically avoids rigid bloc politics to maintain its “strategic autonomy”. Some potential partners, such as Greece and

Cyprus, are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, complicating formal state-level alliances.

India and Israel

In Netanyahu’s Hexagon of Alliances, India is positioned as the strategic anchor and “central core” of the new regional architecture. While the framework is still emerging, India’s specific roles are defined by several key functions.

Netanyahu has explicitly framed India as a “global power” whose involvement provides the alliance with international legitimacy and weight. India’s role involves deepened coordination in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations, particularly targeting what Netanyahu calls “radical axes”.

India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli defense equipment, and the alliance seeks to move toward joint defense research and production under India’s “Make in India” initiative.

A major focus of the India-Israel axis within the hexagon is collaboration on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. The ‘hexagon’ is seen as a strategic formalization of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), where India acts as the primary trade and connectivity link between Asia and the Mediterranean.

India cautious

New Delhi maintains a cautious stance due to its own strategic interests. India historically avoids joining rigid, confrontational blocs. Analysts note that while India values its relationship with Israel, it is unlikely to join an explicitly “anti-Iran” military bloc.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/ahead-of-pm-modis-israel-visit-netanyahus-hexagon-of-alliances-with-india-at-its-core-explained-ws-l-9926558.html

Ahead of Holi, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration seized thousands of litres of edible oil and destroyed paneer, mawa and sweets in a statewide crackdown on adulteration.

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has launched a statewide crackdown on adulterated food items ahead of Holi, seizing large quantities of edible oil, paneer, mawa and sweets across multiple districts.

Officials said the intensified drive is aimed at ensuring food safety during the festive season, when demand for dairy products and sweets surges sharply.

In Hapur, the department seized 32,500 litres of suspected adulterated edible oil during inspections of manufacturing and storage units. Authorities said samples have been sent for laboratory testing.

The broader Holi campaign led to the seizure of nearly 30,000 units of edible oil from different parts of the state.

PANEER, MAWA DESTROYED MULTIPLE DISTRICTS

In Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Tilpata area, officials destroyed 200 kg of adulterated paneer ahead of Holi.

In Saharanpur’s Rampur Maniharan, authorities seized 6.30 quintals of suspected illegal paneer during the festive crackdown.

Ghaziabad witnessed one of the biggest actions. In just 72 hours, officials destroyed 2,500 kg of paneer and 200 kg of mawa after finding them unfit for consumption.

In Sambhal, a rasgulla manufacturing unit was raided and 225 kg of sweets were destroyed due to suspected adulteration.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-cracks-down-on-adulterated-food-ahead-of-holi-seizes-30000-oil-units-2873863-2026-02-25

The complainant, a BJP worker, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi referred to PM Modi as ‘commander-in-thief’ while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan in September 2018.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking the quashing of a defamation complaint pertaining to alleged remarks made by him against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

A single-judge bench of Justice NR Borkar heard advocates at length before reserving the order. The matter is related to a criminal defamation proceeding initiated before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Girgaon on August 28, 2019 by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member named Mahesh Shrishrimal.

He has said in his complaint that Gandhi referred to PM Modi as “commander-in-thief” while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan in September 2018. Shrishrimal has alleged that the Congress leader also targeted the prime minister with the same term on social media as well.

The complainant claimed that Gandhi’s alleged name-calling amounted to describing all BJP members and Indian citizens as thieves.

The magistrate’s court had issued a summons to Gandhi, who challenged it in the High Court, terming the complaint frivolous and vexatious, which deserved to be quashed.

In his petition, the Congress leader said that the complaint was motivated by the sole purpose of furthering the complainant’s latent political agenda.

His counsel cited Section 199(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) – a provision which prescribes that a sessions court is required to take cognisance of an offence where the offence is alleged against a public servant in respect of conduct in the discharge of his public functions.

Gandhi’s lawyers argued that, in view of the aforementioned provision, a legal bar existed on Shrishrimal against filing a complaint.

It was also argued before the High Court by the petitioner that a political party is not identified as a group of persons eligible to file a defamation complaint in accordance with explanation 2 under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code.

Gandhi’s legal team argued that this disbars Shrishrimal from filing a complaint in a representative capacity.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bombay-high-court-reserves-order-on-rahul-gandhi-plea-on-defamation-case-for-alleged-pm-modi-remarks-2873852-2026-02-25

Speaking in the Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister said the investigation determined that the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals rather than milk.

A CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has conclusively found that no milk was used in the manufacture of ghee supplied for the preparation of Tirumala prasadam laddus, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan told the state Legislative Assembly, triggering sharp political exchanges and renewed scrutiny over one of the country’s most revered temple prasadams.

Speaking in the House, Pawan Kalyan said the investigation determined that the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals rather than milk.

“The SIT has conclusively found that no milk was used in the manufacture of the ghee supplied for Tirumala laddu preparation,” he said, adding that while adulterants were identified, the team could not conclusively determine the exact chemical composition or origin of the substances used.

According to him, the inquiry identified 36 accused and pointed to a deliberate conspiracy to defile the prasadam offered to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.

He alleged that tender conditions for ghee supply contracts were altered to favour specific companies.

Eligibility norms were allegedly relaxed, allowing firms with lower turnover, limited dairy experience and reduced production capacity to qualify.

The companies that won contracts between 2020 and 2023, including Bhole Baba and its associates, reportedly did not supply ghee made from milk.

Citing official records in the Assembly, Pawan Kalyan said that out of 480 million laddu prasadams sold between 2019 and 2024, around 200 million were allegedly prepared using adulterated ghee.

IT’S A MAHAPAPAM: CHANDRABABU NAIDU

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, meanwhile, termed the episode a “Mahapapam, not just about one laddu; an organised conspiracy,” and launched a scathing attack on the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“The people of the state have already expressed their concern. We must also remember the conspiratorial actions involved. Even during British rule, Lord Venkateswara Swamy was not subjected to such things. If we fail to act with concern now, we will be neglecting our responsibility,” Naidu said.

“That is why there is a conspiracy angle here. A syndicate has been formed, and this has been proven to a large extent through forensic evidence”.

Describing the alleged scale of the adulteration, he said, “Adulteration of 59.71 lakh kg of ghee has taken place, and Rs 234.51 crore has been spent on adulterated ghee. Between 2019 and 2024, as many as 20.01 crore laddus were prepared using adulterated ghee. This happened with the cooperation of officials, experts, and a syndicate. The laddu prasadam was defiled through organised crime, which would not have been possible without laboratories turning a blind eye during tenders.”

Naidu informed lawmakers that the CBI had reached the stage of filing a chargesheet on January 23, 2026, which was submitted to the Supreme Court of India the following day.

THE TIRUPATI LADDU CONTROVERSY

Singh’s counsel today admitted that the actor’s comments were reckless, but argued that he had no intention to hurt any sentiment, and that he has also apologised for the remark.

Sources said the committee will comprise experts from the fields of education, medical, technical and mental health.

In a step towards framing a policy on regulating digital content accessed by children, the Karnataka government has decided to constitute an expert committee.

The decision follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement at a recent meeting with university vice chancellors regarding a proposal to ban the use of mobile phones by children below 16 years.

Sources said the committee will comprise experts from the fields of education, medical, technical and mental health.

Officials from the department of school education and literacy will also be part of the panel.

“The committee is yet to be formed. Once it is formed, the terms of reference will be given to it. Based on the committee report/recommendation, the government will take a final call on imposing mobile ban, restricting social media and various digital content available on the internet which are not age-appropriate for children,” said a source.

The expert committee will basically study the ill-effects of mobile phones on children’s academics, physical and mental health, among others.

“Several stakeholders, including parents, child rights activists and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, have requested the government to impose mobile ban and also regulate digital content for children,” the source explained.

School management associations and parent bodies have welcomed the move, but suggested not to impose a complete ban on mobile phones. Instead, they suggested restricting the use of social media.

BN Yogananda of the Karnataka Private School College Parents Associations Co-Ordination Committee said: “Social media has become a big enemy of children. Instead of going for a complete mobile ban, the government must look at restricting use of social media. Recent decisions taken by the Australian government can be studied and adopted.”

The Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka advised for a standard operating procedure-based restriction, instead of a total ban.

D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the association, said: “It is not possible to control or monitor kids after school hours when it comes to the use of mobile phones and it is being misused more after school hours, and even with support from parents.”

Responding to this, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the proposal to ban mobile phones for children below 16 years is under discussion and that there is pressure from parents to go ahead with the proposal.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnataka-govt-to-frame-policy-to-regulate-digital-content-use-by-kids-3909248

The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The service was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.

All seven people on board an air ambulance lost their lives as the aircraft crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday while flying to Delhi from Ranchi.

The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The service was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.

The victims have been identified as crew members Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, patient Sanjay Kumar, doctor Vikash Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, and attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.

“The aircraft went missing around 7.30 pm. It crashed at Bariatu Panchayat area in Simaria,” she said, adding that the plane crashed deep inside a forest.

“All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash. The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi,” Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G told PTI.

The bodies of all seven dead have been recovered, SDPO Shubham Khandelwal told PTI.

Redbird, which is a Delhi-based non-scheduled operator, has six aircraft in its fleet including the one that crashed, according to DGCA website.

The air ambulance was arranged by one of the patients from the Devkamal Hospital, according to PTI report quoting hospital CEO Anant Sinha.

“The patient, Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital,” Sinha said, adding that the family members decided to take him to Delhi for better treatment.

“They arranged an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm,” he said.

In a post on X, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren said he was deeply saddened by the news of the crash.

“I pray for the deceased individuals, including the crew members aboard the plane from Marang Buru (the supreme tribal deity), and for strength to their families during this difficult time,” he posted.

See more

रांची से दिल्ली जा रही एयर एम्बुलेंस के चतरा जिले के सिमरिया में क्रैश होने की खबर से व्यथित हूँ।

मरांग बुरु से प्लेन में सवार क्रू मेंबर्स सहित सभी 7 लोगों के सकुशल होने तथा परिजनों को इस कठिन घड़ी में संबल देने हेतु प्रार्थना करता हूँ। #AirAmbulanceCrash pic.twitter.com/kXuQXMb99v

— Champai Soren (@ChampaiSoren) February 23, 2026

Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said that the plane lost contact with the air traffic control about 20 minutes after takeoff.

“Inclement weather could be a reason behind the crash, but the actual cause will be ascertained only after a probe,” he said.

In a statement, the DGCA said, “On 23.02.2026 Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV operating medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight on sector Ranchi-Delhi crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, in Jharkhand. There were seven people on board, including two crew members.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/all-seven-on-board-including-patient-doctor-killed-in-jharkhand-air-ambulance-crash-3909351 

A Jodhpur priest challenges blind beliefs, saying “Ye Shashtron Mein Nahi Hai” to discourage harmful rituals and promote civic sense, blending faith with social responsibility and encouraging cleanliness and practical thinking.

The debate around civic sense is currently gaining momentum in India, and a priest from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur appears to be taking it upon himself to explain its true meaning. Pandit Jeevraj Shrimali has been actively cleaning religious ponds and urging devotees to use designated bins to dispose of prayer leftovers such as flowers, cloth pieces, coconuts and other ritual items. He often shares the shocking items he finds in these water bodies – objects that people throw in due to superstitious beliefs. Many think that immersing old pictures of deities, sweets, grains or oil in water brings good fortune or spiritual merit. However, such practices pollute water bodies and harm aquatic life. This is why responsible waste disposal and moving away from superstitious customs are important.

Akshat Pratap Singh confessed to killing his father during interrogation.

In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old youth has been accused of killing his father and attempting to conceal the crime by cutting up the body and hiding it inside their home, reported India Today, citing police.

The victim, Manvendra Pratap Singh, who owned Vardhman Pathology, had been missing since February 20. A missing person complaint was filed soon after he could not be traced.

During the search, police recovered his decomposed remains from a drum kept inside the house.

As a part of the investigation, officers questioned his son, Akshat Pratap Singh, a B.Com student. He confessed to the crime during interrogation.

DCP Vikrant Veer said the accused told officials that he shot his father with a rifle at around 4.30 AM on February 20 after an argument. The son allegedly claimed he was upset because his father was pressuring him to prepare for competitive examinations.

Police said that after the shooting, the accused moved the body from the third floor to a room on the ground floor. He then allegedly cut the body into pieces in an attempt to hide the evidence. Some body parts were reportedly disposed of near Sadarouna village, while others were kept inside a drum at the house. During the search, officers recovered several remains from the ground floor.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/lucknow-news/upset-over-exam-pressure-lucknow-teen-shoots-father-dead-dismembers-body-hides-it-in-drum-ws-l-9925552.html

Ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi wrote an open letter greeting people with ‘Joy Maa Kali’ and urging them to vote wisely. He highlighted central schemes like Jan Dhan and Ujjwala Yojana, praised Bengali icons, and criticized the TMC for misrule. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh responded, noting the central government froze state funds.

Ahead of the high voltage Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has penned an open letter for the people of Bengal urging them to vote wisely.

In the letter instead of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant, Modi had adopted the local invocation and greeted people with ‘Joy Maa Kali’ at the beginning of the letter.

“Joy maa Kali! Only a few months remain, after which the fate of West Bengal will be decided. The future of the next generation depends on your well-considered decision. From the children to the elderly are victims of extreme deprivation today. My heart is heavy with their pain. Therefore, from the depths of my soul, I have taken a single pledge: the pledge to make West Bengal ‘developed and prosperous’ and build ‘Shonar Bangla’,” wrote the Prime Minister.

In the open letter, Modi had also mentioned the legacies of Bengali icons such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, Rishi Aurobindo and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and also stated about the central welfare schemes like the Jan Dhan Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana.

“Despite non cooperation of the state government five crore people in West Bengal have been brought under the banking network today through the central ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’. Through the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, we have made it possible to construct 89 lakh toilets in the state. Over 52 hours of farmers have been benefited,” further mentioned Modi.

Slamming Trinamool Congress (TMC) Modi mentioned that the ruling party is ‘busy snatching away people’s employment’.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-urges-west-bengal-voters-to-choose-wisely-in-open-letter

Opposition parties, led by Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar, have been protesting at Azad Maidan for the past two days, demanding the scrapping of a section of the Town and Country Planning Act that allows the conversion of non-settlement zones into settlement zones, paving the way for construction activities.

Several hundred persons protested on Monday in front of the private residence of Goa Minister Vishwajit Rane demanding the scrapping of a section of Town and Country Planning Act that enables the conversion of non-settlement zone into settlement zone, paving the way for construction activities.

Opposition parties led by Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar have been protesting at Azad Maidan here for last two days demanding scrapping of the controversial section 39A of TCP Act. Borkar, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding immediate repeal of the section, had also sought suspension of police personnel who allegedly manhandled him and his supporters during the agitation.

The agitators had given a deadline of 4 pm on Monday to the government to accept their demands. They began walking towards the private residence of TCP minister Rane after there was no response from the government.

The protestors reached Dona Paula suburb, where Rane’s house is located, after travelling for almost 5 kilometres on foot and continued their protests, an official said.

Among those who took part in the stir were Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Venzy Viegas, Carlos Ferreira, Revolutionary Goans Party chief Manoj Parab and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Sunil Kawthankar.

Speaking on the issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said those taking part have the right to agitate but they should do it considering the limits of the agitation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hundreds-march-to-goa-minister-residence-over-green-land-conversion-law-2873268-2026-02-24

Israel and India are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement, potentially finalised this year. PM Modi’s upcoming visit will also deepen defence ties and expand collaboration in technology, infrastructure, and innovation.

Israel and India are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement that could be finalised this year, Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar said on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the Jewish nation starting February 25.

In a social media message, Azar said Israel was excited to host PM Modi, describing New Delhi-Tel Aviv ties as a partnership rooted in trust and driven by innovation.

“Namaste. This is an exciting moment for India-Israel relations. We are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel. Now, when India and Israel come together, it’s never just a meeting. It’s a partnership built on trust, powered by innovation, and guided by a clear understanding of the challenges of our time,” he said in a post on X.

The Israeli envoy also indicated that the two sides intend to move forward decisively during PM Modi’s upcoming visit.

“During this visit, we will move forward decisively. First, on security and defence. India and Israel have worked closely for years and we are proud of this strong cooperation. But the world is changing fast and so are the threats. In order to meet them, we will deepen our defence relationship by updating our security agreements. This will allow us to engage in more sensitive projects and develop together a logical solution,” Azar said.

The ambassador said both countries were working towards signing an FTA, with an Israeli delegation expected to arrive in India for negotiations. He expressed hope that the first phase of the trade pact could be completed in the coming weeks, after which pending issues would be taken up.

“Second, our economic partnership is gaining real momentum. We signed a bilateral investment treaty and we are moving forward to sign a free trade agreement hopefully this year,” he added.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Azar said Modi is “very loved in Israel” and shares a special relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that several agreements are expected during the visit, particularly in the defence sector, with an emphasis on co-production and co-development of new technologies for counterterrorism and other challenges.

His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi said he was looking forward to his visit to Israel, responding to Benjamin Netanyahu’s message on X about the upcoming trip.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-israel-visit-free-trade-deal-tel-aviv-new-delhi-benjamin-netanyahu-fta-2873239-2026-02-23

A case was filed against a Delhi couple after three Arunachal women alleged racial abuse during a Malviya Nagar dispute; Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma sought strict legal action.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday termed the alleged racial abuse of three northeastern women in Delhi as “very unfortunate”, urging strict legal action and greater public sensitisation to curb such incidents.

Speaking to India Today TV days after the episode, Sangma said such behaviour reflects the thinking of a small section of people and should not be seen as representative of the country.

“This is truly a very unfortunate incident that has happened. It is not that the majority of people think like that. There are small groups or individuals who have such a mindset, which is very sad. Incidents like this send a very wrong signal to the rest of the nation,” he said.

See more

#Exclusive | Meghalaya CM on racial bias

This is truly a very unfortunate incident. To be very frank, the majority of people do not think this way. From what I have observed, it is only a small group of individuals who hold such a mindset, which is deeply unfortunate:… pic.twitter.com/iwFwKxxBty

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 23, 2026

The Chief Minister stressed that such episodes undermine the idea of national unity. “While we are trying to position ourselves as a united nation, incidents like these spoil the entire environment. This is something we all should condemn and there has to be a lot of sensitisation about it,” he added.

Sangma also urged people from the Northeast to raise their voices against such discrimination. “People must talk about this. I tell people of the Northeast to speak up. The more we talk, we create awareness. Only then will we be able to overcome such shortcomings,” he said.

Addressing the recurring issue of people from the Northeast being stereotyped based on appearance, food or attire, Sangma said India’s diversity must be respected.

“The whole country is different. If you go from one part of the country to another, that is what makes India so special. When you go to the southern part they have different food habits, attire and culture, and the same is the case in all regions. People who have such a narrow mindset are the ones who create such differences,” he said.

See more

#Exclusive | Meghalaya CM on racial bias

Therefore, this has to change. There must be a collective effort—people need to speak out, and those who are not from the Northeast must also raise their voices: @SangmaConrad, Meghalaya CM#SuperSix | @snehamordani pic.twitter.com/ECd1OGbb1d

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 23, 2026

Calling for accountability, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said action must follow the law. “A strong message must go that these kinds of incidents will not be tolerated. At the end of the day, there has to be some self-realisation in people. There has to be a change in mindset. I expect that the Delhi Police will take stern action as per law,” he said.

ARUNACHAL WOMEN FACE RACIAL ABUSE

India has condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, labelling them a violation of sovereignty and an unnecessary escalation that led to civilian casualties, including women and children.

India has issued a strong condemnation of Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, calling them a violation of sovereignty and a needless escalation that has cost innocent lives, including women and children. Official Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s resolute stance against cross-border military action and asserted that Islamabad’s decision to deploy air power over Afghan territory during the holy month of Ramadan was both irresponsible and unjustifiable.

“India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures. India reiterates its support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” Jaiswal said.

Pakistan said early Sunday that it had carried out strikes along its border with Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of Pakistani terrorists it blames for a series of recent attacks inside the country. Officials in Islamabad did not initially specify the precise locations of the strikes. According to reports, the operations also targetted the Ghani Khelo and Garda Samia districts inside Afghanistan. Local reports said at least 17 Afghan civilians were killed in the strikes.

In comments posted before dawn on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military had conducted what he described as “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and its affiliates. He added that an affiliate of the Islamic State group had also been targeted in the border region.

Pakistan carried out similar strikes deep inside Afghanistan in October, also aimed at terrorist hideouts.

Tarar said Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region,” but added that protecting the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained the government’s top priority.

The latest strikes follow a string of deadly attacks in northwestern Pakistan. Days earlier, a suicide bomber, backed by gunmen, drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a security post in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan. The blast caused part of the compound to collapse, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities later said the attacker was an Afghan national.

Hours before the reported cross-border strikes, another suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in the nearby Bannu district, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.

After Saturday’s violence, Pakistan’s military warned it would not “exercise any restraint” and that operations against those responsible would continue “irrespective of their location,” language that suggested rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Tarar said Pakistan had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks — including a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad earlier this month that killed 31 worshippers — were carried out by terrorists acting on the “behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-condemns-pakistans-airstrikes-on-afghanistan-during-ramadan-calls-out-paks-dangerous-adventurism-article-153669583

Air India Flight Cancel News: Air India has announced the cancellation of all flights to and from New York, New Jersey, and nearby areas on February 23 due to an impending severe winter storm.

Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party and an ally of the Congress party, condemned the recent “shirtless” protest at the AI Impact Summit, labeling it as an embarrassment for the nation.

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and INDIA bloc ally, has condemned the Indian Youth Congress for carrying out a “topless” protest at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Speaking to reporters in Jhansi on Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav said that while parties may have political differences with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a protest that brings “shame” to the nation in front of foreign dignitaries should not have been carried out. On Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a “shirtless” protest inside the summit venue, waving t-shirts with protest messages targeting ‘compromised Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

“This was wrong. We may have internal rifts, and the whole nation knows that the BJP lies. But, they should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and world representatives,” the SP chief said.

See more

#WATCH | Jhansi, UP: On Congress Protest at AI summit, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “… We may have internal rifts, but what Congress did on the global platform was not appropriate. They should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in… pic.twitter.com/pdT4P4n21z

— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026

 

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leader of the bloc, without whom “the ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘D’, ‘I’, ‘A’ of the INDIA alliance will be gone,” Mani Shankar Aiyar said.

Congress’s Mani Shankar Aiyar, known for his controversial statements on multiple issues, this time advised his party’s senior leader Rahul Gandhi to leave INDIA Bloc’s driving seat to leaders of the regional parties. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, was leader of the bloc, without whom “the ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘D’, ‘I’, ‘A’ of the INDIA alliance will be gone”.

“Mamata Banerjee is the leader of this alliance. Along with her, there are two or four others who can achieve this position,” he told reporters in Kolkata this afternoon, sparkling a political row ahead of the assembly polls in Bengal.

Then he went on to add, “I hope that instead of trying to remain in this position, which belongs to smaller parties -be it Stalin, Mamata Didi, Akhilesh, Tejashwi, or someone else – Rahul Gandhi should let them handle it.”

Mani Shankar Aiyar – suspended by Rahul Gandhi earlier over his derogatory comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been praising his party’s regional opponents for a while. Recently he made headlines with his praise for Kerala Chief Minister and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan. His irked party colleagues said it was his personal opinion.

The Bengal Congress leaders have responded sharply to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comment.

Congress state general secretary Suman Roy Chowdhury has told NDTV,

“Let us make it clear in the beginning — for a long time, Mani Shankar Aiyar is no more attached with the activities of Congress Party. Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bengal are vacant now. Was that a reason behind such a comment from Mani Shankar Aiyar? We wonder,” he said.

He then proceeded to attack the senior leader directly.

“Mani Shankar ji do you know Mamata Banerjee acts as behind the curtain stooge of BJP against whom the INDIA block is fighting? I don’t think after staying away from the party, you have any stakes to make any decision of the Congress Party”.

“I will not comment right now because we are all busy with the Bengal elections,” said Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-india-bloc-chief-mani-shankar-aiyars-message-to-rahul-gandhi-11121956?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Sources said the Jaish-e-Mohammed has been pushed “below threshold level” in Jammu region following ‘Operation Trashi-I’, which led to the death of Jaish commander Saifullah Baloch

The Jaish-e-Mohammed network in the Jammu region has suffered a massive blow after security forces gunned down three terrorists linked to the Pakistan-based group in Kishtwar on Sunday.

According to top intelligence sources, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has been pushed “below threshold level” in Jammu following ‘Operation Trashi-I’, in which one of the three terrorists killed was Jaish commander Saifullah Baloch.

The intelligence sources told News18 that Indian security forces have successfully pushed the JeM into “panic mode” by striking local command structure and communications, as well as by focusing on their remote and high-altitude hideouts in the Doda-Kishtwar belt. Saifullah Baloch, a Pakistani national, was described as a “notorious infiltrator” responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks against security forces in this region over recent years.

The sources said Saifullah’s elimination, alongside two Pakistani aides, has effectively dismantled the local command structure of Jaish and severely crippled its ability to plan future strikes.

INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN DATA KEY TO TRACKING TERRORISTS

The sources said Operation Trashi-I took place in the remote, forested Passerkut area of the Chatroo belt.

They said multi-agency teams – the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, and CRPF – used intelligence-driven data to track the terrorists to a nomadic hut. During a fierce gunfight, this hideout caught fire, and security forces subsequently recovered two AK-47 rifles along with a significant cache of ammunition.

The success of this operation, the sources said, is a turning point in regional security. Intelligence reports indicate that the remaining JeM elements have been forced into a “panic mode”, characterised by a total breakdown in their logistical and communication frameworks. The group has been stripped of its sophisticated equipment; instead of using secure ultra sets or satellite phones, they have been reduced to the primitive tactic of snatching mobile phones from local residents due to an intense fear of detection.

“This operation shows the effectiveness of multi-agency coordination, precise intel, and forward deployment in denying space to terrorists,” a source said, highlighting that the group now has “limited ability to execute large-scale attacks or expand its footprint”.

With six Jaish terrorists eliminated in the Jammu region this year, sustained operations have successfully contained the threat, the source said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jaish-e-mohammed-panic-mode-jammu-kashmir-encounter-communications-remote-high-altitude-hideouts-target-commander-saifullah-killed-ws-l-9923318.html

This is not the first time that the Trinamool MP has lashed out at the Centre for its engagement with Taliban officials. In October 2025, she condemned the government after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed a press conference in Delhi attended exclusively by men journalists.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has lashed out at the Taliban after reports emerged that a newly introduced penal code in Afghanistan effectively legitimises domestic violence against women and equates their status with that of “slaves”.

In a scathing attack, Moitra accused the Taliban regime of codifying gender-based brutality and took a swipe at the Centre for engaging diplomatically with the Islamist group.

“The Indian government laid out the red carpet for this very Taliban a few months ago. As an Indian woman, I hang my head in shame. For my Afghan sisters — we stand with you against these demons,” she tweeted.

See more

The Indian government laid out the red carpet for this very Taliban a few months ago. As an Indian woman I hang my head in shame. For my Afghan sisters – we stand with you against these demons. pic.twitter.com/4MEuHngY3f

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) February 22, 2026

Details of the reported penal code from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have alarmed women’s rights activists.

According to accounts circulating among rights groups, the code places women on the same legal footing as “slaves”.

It also allows husbands or “masters” to physically punish wives or dependents, as long as no bones are broken or open wounds inflicted.

This is not the first time that the Trinamool MP has lashed out at the Centre for its engagement with Taliban officials.

In October 2025, she had condemned the government after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed a press conference in Delhi attended exclusively by men journalists.

“The government has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing the Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from the presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites,” Moitra had said at the time.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trinamool-congress-mp-mahua-moitra-slams-talibans-anti-women-law-jabs-government-for-engagement-with-islamist-group-2872670-2026-02-23

 

Under investigation, the Tejas fighter jet suffered severe damage during landing after a routine sortie, though the pilot ejected safely. Following the accident, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets to carry out an intensive technical probe.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost another Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in an accident, triggering investigations and extensive technical checks across the fleet.

According to sources, the incident took place earlier this month in an operational area at a key air base when the indigenously made fighter jet was landing after a routine training sortie. Preliminary assessment pointed to a suspected technical glitch, possibly involving a failure in onboard systems, the source said.

Following the accident, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets to carry out an intensive technical probe, news agency PTI reported.

The aircraft has suffered severe airframe damage and may be written off. The pilot, however, ejected safely and escaped without serious injury.

This is the third Tejas aircraft lost since induction into the IAF.

The first crash took place near Jaisalmer in March 2024 while the jet was returning from a firepower demonstration; the pilot had ejected safely. The second incident occurred during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, in which the pilot was killed. An investigation into that crash is still underway.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/another-tejas-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-sortie-pilot-ejects-safely-2872595-2026-02-22

High Commissioner Pranay Verma was speaking with reporters after he met with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took oath on February 17.

India looks forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma said on Sunday, expressing New Delhi’s willingness to reengage with Dhaka.

High Commissioner Verma was speaking with reporters after he met with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took oath on February 17.

“In today’s meeting with the Foreign Minister, I reiterated our position that we look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh,” Verma told reporters after the meeting, which was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed.

The envoy said he “conveyed that we want to strengthen our people-centric cooperation in all domains, working together in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner, based on mutual interest and mutual benefit”.

Verma called the meeting more of a ‘courtesy’ call and an “initial exchange of views” since it was his first meeting with the new Foreign Minister and Minister of State after the new government took charge in Bangladesh.

After his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) bagged a two-thirds majority in the crucial February 12 elections, Tarique Rahman, 60, took oath on February 17, ending the 18-month Muhummad Yunus’ rule, when ties with India went south, their lowest ebb since 1971.

The Indian envoy said, “You are aware of our recent high level communications with Bangladesh” since the election, pointing out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to Tarique Rahman on February 13 soon after BNP’s victory. “They also spoke on the phone later that day,” Verma disclosed on Sunday.

He also recalled that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, representing India and also had a bilateral meeting with the new Bangladesh prime minister.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-bangladesh-relation-envoy-pranay-verma-khalilur-rahman-tarique-rahman-dhaka-2872593-2026-02-22

‘This feature enables PhonePe users to initiate and complete in-app tasks via natural language text or voice commands, enhancing convenience and bringing personalisation to the platform’s overall experience,’ PhonePe said in a statement.

PhonePe on Saturday launched an AI-powered natural language search feature built using Microsoft Foundry, allowing users to navigate, pay and track transactions on the app through simple voice or text commands.

“This feature enables PhonePe users to initiate and complete in-app tasks via natural language text or voice commands, enhancing convenience and bringing personalisation to the platform’s overall experience,” PhonePe said in a statement.

The feature replaces traditional menu-based navigation with intent-based routing, enabling users to complete in-app tasks conversationally. For instance, commands such as “Pay Hemanth 20 rupees” automatically open the payment interface with the intended recipient pre-selected or display relevant contacts. Requests like “Recharge FASTag” or “Gold price” direct users to the appropriate service or information page within the app.

The company said the tool goes beyond basic navigation by interpreting user intent – whether making a payment, completing a purchase or seeking support. It uses a hybrid model combining on-device and cloud inferencing while ensuring that no personal or transactional data leaves the PhonePe environment.

Rahul Chari, Founder, Whole-time Director and CTO of PhonePe, said the launch marks a shift from payment apps being purely transactional tools to more intelligent, user-centric platforms.

“For years, payment apps have been built as utilitarian tools, optimised for transactions and not people. This launch is the first step towards changing that. Our vision is to make payments accessible to every Indian, and AI enables us to build an intelligent interface that anticipates what users need before they even go looking for it.

“Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we aim to simplify payments further by understanding intent, not just inputs. And we believe intelligence at the edge is the future and the most thoughtful way to deliver real value without compromising on privacy or security,” he said.

Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia at Microsoft, said the collaboration reflects growing adoption of natural language interfaces in India. He noted that Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities to help build secure, scalable and human-centred digital experiences.

“As more Indians embrace natural language to interact with digital services, PhonePe’s new AI-powered experience is a strong step toward more intuitive and accessible digital payments. Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities that help innovators like PhonePe build secure, scalable and human-centred products for millions. We’re committed to supporting India’s digital ecosystem with trusted AI that empowers organisations to deliver simpler and more meaningful customer experiences.” The feature will be rolled out in phases across India and can be accessed through the app’s Global Search Bar, Help Center and History tab.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/phonepe-launches-ai-powered-natural-language-search-built-on-microsoft-foundry-3906680

According to the official release by the Election Commission (EC) today, large numbers of ineligible electors were removed during the revision process.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been completed across six states and Union Territories across India, with significant changes recorded in voter lists. According to the official release by the Election Commission (EC) today, large numbers of ineligible electors were removed during the revision process.

Among all regions, Gujarat recorded the highest net deletion, with 68,12,711 electors removed. The roll declining from 5,08,43,436 before SIR to 4,40,30,725 after SIR (-13.40%). Madhya Pradesh followed with 34,25,078 deletions, reducing the electorate from 5,74,06,143 to 5,39,81,065 (-5.97%).

Other states also witnessed substantial revisions. Rajasthan saw the number of electors fall from 5,46,56,215 to 5,15,19,929 (-31,36,286). Chhattisgarh recorded a decline from 2,12,30,737 to 1,87,30,914 (-24,99,823). Kerala saw a reduction from 2,78,50,855 to 2,69,53,644 (-8,97,211), while Goa recorded a drop from 11,85,034 to 10,57,566 (-1,27,468). Among Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands saw electors decrease from 3,10,404 to 2,58,040 (-52,364), Puducherry from 10,21,578 to 9,44,211 (-77,367), and Lakshadweep from 57,813 to 57,607 (-206).

Officials stated that the net change reflects electors found ineligible minus newly added eligible voters. Reasons for deletion include death, permanent relocation, multiple registrations, or other eligibility issues. The electoral roll update remains a continuous process, and eligible citizens can still apply for addition, deletion, or correction of entries.

 

The hideout was set up inside a natural cave and was unearthed during a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha bowl, said the White Knight Corps.

The Indian Army on Saturday busted a terrorist hideout in a remote village in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and seized a pistol, some magazines and other logistic supplies.

The hideout was set up inside a natural cave and was unearthed during a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha bowl, the Army’s White Knight Corps said in a post on X. “Based on specific inputs, troops of White Knight Corps undertook a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha Bowl.” it said.

During the systematic search of suspicious locations, including cave-like structures, the troops recovered a pistol, two magazines, clothing, eatables and other logistic stores. “The operation reinforces sustained surveillance and proactive domination of the area,” the White Knight Corps said.

This came after the Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the officials, a huge consignment of arms and ammunition was recovered from the operation.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident, stating that the blast occurred during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation. Following the explosion, security forces intensified combing operations in the area and heightened vigil to prevent further attacks.

An improvised explosive device (IED) blast injured two personnel of the CRPF’s 209 CoBRA battalion during an anti-Naxal operation in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Saturday, officials said.

The incident took place near Chadri Dera village under the Chhota Nagara police station when a joint team of district police and CRPF was conducting a search operation against CPI (Maoist) cadres in the densely forested and highly insurgency-affected region.

According to officials, the security personnel came in contact with an IED allegedly planted earlier by Maoists in the forest. The explosion left two CoBRA jawans injured, one of them reportedly in serious condition.

The injured personnel were immediately evacuated from the forest area and provided primary treatment before being airlifted to Ranchi for advanced medical care.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident, stating that the blast occurred during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation. Following the explosion, security forces intensified combing operations in the area and heightened vigil to prevent further attacks.

Security agencies said that forces have achieved several successes in recent operations against Maoists in the region, which may have prompted the insurgents to plant IEDs at multiple locations to target security personnel.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/two-crpf-jawans-hurt-in-ied-blasts-during-anti-maoist-ops-in-jharkhands-saranda-forest-2872284-2026-02-22

India and Brazil aim to increase their bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years, following discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Lula.

India and Brazil on Saturday set a target to raise annual bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years and signed an agreement on cooperation in critical minerals following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The two leaders also pledged to expand cooperation in defence, energy, healthcare, digital public infrastructure and emerging technologies, while calling for stronger strategic coordination amid global geopolitical uncertainty.

“Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking the bilateral trade beyond USD 20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure, it is a reflection of trust,” Modi said in a joint media statement.

India-Brazil trade stood at USD 12 billion in 2024-25, with Indian exports at USD 6.77 billion and imports from Brazil at USD 5.43 billion.

Modi said the agreement on critical minerals and rare earths would help build resilient supply chains. The two sides also adopted a joint declaration on digital partnership and signed memoranda of understanding covering mining, micro, small and medium enterprises, healthcare and traditional knowledge systems.

See more

India is honoured to welcome President Lula and his delegation, which includes distinguished ministers and business leaders. India-Brazil relations have long benefited from President Lula’s vision and inspiring leadership. His presence at the AI Summit has also infused new energy… pic.twitter.com/jsVw3MJs8c

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2026

 

Officials emphasised that while the measures are precautionary, the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Delhi is in a state of high alert as of Saturday, February 21, following specific intelligence reports regarding terror attacks being planned by Pakistan-based banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the national capital, officials said. The threat is centred around religious sites, with a temple in the Chandni Chowk area near the iconic Red Fort identified as a potential target.

‘Revenge’ linked to Islamabad blast
The terror outfit is allegedly seeking to “avenge” a suicide bombing that occurred on February 6 at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, news agencies cited sources as saying. That blast claimed at least 31 lives.

Pakistan has previously implied external involvement in the Islamabad blast, a claim India has categorically dismissed. In a statement released earlier this month, India noted, “It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills. India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless”.

Specific threats of IED attacks
Intelligence sources have provided specific details regarding the nature of the potential strike. At least two senior Delhi Police officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reportedly said the first set of inputs regarding these threats were received prior to Republic Day celebrations.

While those initial inputs were later assessed, new specific intelligence received on Saturday suggests an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack is being plotted.

Tactical deployment

In response to the current threat, security has been fortified across key religious and heritage sites, officials said. Central agencies and Delhi Police units are maintaining close coordination to monitor vulnerable points. Surveillance has been intensified through CCTV monitoring and stringent vehicle checks.

“Bomb disposal squads, dog squads and quick reaction teams have also been placed on standby at strategic locations,” officials told news agency PTI. A DCP-rank officer, accompanied by trained commandos, was recently deployed at the Gauri Shankar temple in Chandni Chowk during Mahashivratri celebrations as part of these heightened measures.

Officials emphasised that while the measures are precautionary, the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/why-delhi-is-on-high-alert-lashkar-threat-revenge-motive-religious-sites-on-hitlist-chandni-chowk-red-fort-101771673669758.html

Shinde hailed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde on Friday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Youth Congress protests at the AI Impact Summit, saying he was unfit to run his own party and to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In a post on X, Shinde said the Congress has chosen spectacle over substance at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought together innovators, investors and leaders to showcase India’s rise as a technology and economic powerhouse.

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society,” said Shinde quoting Mark Twain.

At a moment meant to highlight India’s growing global stature, Congress workers resort to theatrics that only embarrass the nation, Shinde said.

A group of Indian Youth Congress workers staged a dramatic “shirtless protest” at an AI Impact Summit exhibition hall, walking around holding t-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal printed on them.

“I hope India’s principal opposition party clothes itself with wisdom and integrity — above all, love for India,” Shinde said.

Shinde hailed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India’s profile as a digital leader and fast-growing major economy has strengthened dramatically. Global platforms are being hosted with confidence, vision and competence. That is statesmanship,” Shinde said.

“In contrast, the opposition offers noise instead of ideas, stunts instead of solutions. Democracy needs a serious opposition — but what we are seeing is a collapse of credibility,” the Shiv Sena leader said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/rahul-gandhi-unfit-to-be-leader-of-opposition-shiv-senas-shrikant-shinde-3906264

Singh, the DJ owner, junked the claims of multi-crore showers as false.

Chandigarh: A video of a wedding in Punjab’s Tarn Taran has gone viral across social media platforms, showing the groom and several guests showering a bride with notes worth crores of rupees until the dance floor is buried under a carpet of cash.

The video clip has fueled wild claims online, with some users alleging a staggering amount of Rs 10 crore was showered during the wedding. However, a DJ owner at the event dismissed the social media speculation as a gross exaggeration.

The ceremony, solemnised on February 14 in Patti area, caught the attention of thousands of social media users as the groom was filmed pulling wads of cash from a bag and tossing them into the air. Several guests joined in the gesture, a practice commonly seen at Punjabi weddings, leaving the entire dance floor covered in notes.

Singh, the DJ owner, junked the claims of multi-crore showers as false.

“Some people are claiming Rs 8 crore, 10 crore or Rs 10 lakh on their social media accounts. They are making such claims only to seek views,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/internet-abuzz-with-rumours-of-rs-10-crore-cash-shower-at-punjab-wedding-3903327

The alert comes nearly three months after a car explosion near Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which left at least 12 people dead and over two dozen injured, in one of the deadliest terror incidents in the capital in recent years.

Security agencies have sounded a high alert in the national capital following intelligence inputs warning of a possible terror plot by Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba targeting crowded religious and heritage locations in Delhi.

Sources said specific intelligence inputs indicated that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be among potential targets, with terrorists allegedly planning an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in and around sensitive zones, including areas near the Red Fort. The suspected plot is being linked to an attempt by the terror group to avenge the February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, though officials said the inputs are still under verification.

Security has been tightened at all temples in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi following the terror alert. Paramilitary personnel have been deployed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, monitoring temple premises from elevated positions as well as ground level. Teams of Delhi Police have also been stationed across the locality to regulate movement, conduct checks and ensure enhanced security in and around religious sites.

The latest alert comes nearly three months after the November 10, 2025 car bombing near Delhi’s Red Fort, one of the deadliest terror incidents in the capital in recent years. The explosion, triggered by an explosives-laden Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort Metro Station, killed at least 12 people and injured over 20 others, while setting multiple nearby vehicles on fire. Investigators later confirmed that ammonium nitrate-based explosives were used in the blast.

Probe agencies identified the vehicle’s driver as Umar Mohammad alias Umar Un Nabi, a doctor associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad. DNA analysis of human remains recovered from the wreckage confirmed his presence inside the vehicle at the time of the explosion, with investigators linking him to a wider terror module operating out of neighbouring Haryana.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/terror-alert-in-delhi-as-let-plans-terror-attacks-on-temples-near-red-fort-chandni-chowk-intel-sources-2871945-2026-02-21

NHAI is considering discontinuing cash payments at National Highway toll plazas from April 1, 2026, moving to a fully digital system.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is contemplating discontinuing cash transactions at National Highway fee plazas across the country from April 1, 2026, as part of its plan to create a fully digital tolling ecosystem.

If implemented, all toll payments at National Highway fee plazas will be processed exclusively through digital modes such as FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The move aims to consolidate the gains achieved in Electronic Toll Collection and strengthen the efficiency and reliability of fee plaza operations.

NHAI said the transition will enhance ease of commuting for highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency to toll transactions.

Over the past few years, FASTag penetration has crossed 98 percent, significantly transforming toll collection practices in the country. At present, most toll transactions take place electronically through RFID-enabled FASTags affixed to vehicles, allowing seamless and contactless movement across toll plazas.

Authorities have also operationalised UPI payment facilities at National Highway toll plazas to ensure instant and accessible digital payment options for commuters nationwide.

Under National Highway fee rules, vehicles entering a fee plaza without a valid and functional FASTag must pay twice the applicable user fee if the payment is made in cash. However, users who choose to pay via UPI are charged 1.25 times the applicable user fee for their vehicle category.

According to plaza-level assessments, cash-based payments contribute to congestion, longer waiting times during peak traffic periods and transaction-related disputes. NHAI believes that a complete shift to digital-only payments will strengthen operational efficiency, improve traffic management, minimise delays and enhance the overall user experience at over 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and Expressways across the country.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nhai-cashless-toll-plazas-digital-payments-fastag-upi-april-1-2871867-2026-02-20

Aam Aadmi Party slammed the BJP after Donald Trump claimed he threatened 200% tariffs on India and Pakistan to halt May 2025 military tensions, calling it an “open insult” to India.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had threatened to impose a “200 per cent tariff” on India and Pakistan to stop military tensions in May 2025.

In a post on X, AAP said Trump had “openly insulted” India on a global platform by claiming he forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the conflict through economic pressure. The party said even Pakistan’s Prime Minister was seen laughing during the remarks.

“Donald Trump is repeatedly questioning India’s credibility on the world stage, and Prime Minister Modi’s silence refuses to break,” AAP said. The party added that people in the country were asking how any true patriot could tolerate an insult to India.

Trump made the remarks while speaking at an event of the Board of Peace. Referring to the India-Pakistan military tensions of May 2025, he claimed he had threatened both countries with 200 per cent tariffs if they continued fighting.

“I knew Prime Minister Modi very well… I called them and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” Trump said. “If you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries.”

He claimed that both sides were willing to fight but stepped back when faced with economic consequences. “When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aap-slams-bjp-donald-trump-tariff-claim-india-pakistan-tensions-modi-2871848-2026-02-20

The 594-km Ganga Expressway will soon open to the public, reducing Meerut–Prayagraj travel time to 6–8 hours while boosting connectivity across 12 UP districts.

Income tax authorities have leveraged AI tools to uncover substantial tax evasion by biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad, revealing sales suppression of at least Rs 70,000 crore since the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Income tax officials using AI tools, including Generative AI and data analysis, have unearthed how a biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad evaded tax by suppressing sales turnover worth at least Rs 70,000 crore since the 2019-2020 financial year. The IT sleuths minced at least 60 terabytes of transaction data from a pan-India billing software that is used by over hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country and unveiled sales suppression of at least Rs 70,000 crore, TOI reported.

According to the Income Tax department, its officials used different technology tools, including AI tools, Generative AI, data analysis softwares, and minced data spanning 1.77 lakh restaurant IDs across the country.

As per IT officials, the billing software provider recorded post-sales deletions totaling Rs 13,317 crore out of the Rs 70,000 crore. Digging more into this, officials found that only Andhra and Telangana alone suppressed sales of Rs 5,141 crore.

Sara Hooker said the sheer scale of the summit, which saw more than 300,000 attendees, was a testament to its success.

As the AI Impact Summit 2026 drew to a close in the national capital, the event left behind not just sweeping policy conversations and ambitious declarations, but also an unexpectedly viral moment that captured the internet’s imagination. At the centre of it was Sara Hooker, computer scientist and CEO of US-based AI firm Adaption Labs, whose late-night room service order after missing a high-profile gala dinner became a talking point across India.

Hooker, who was in Delhi to attend the summit and participate in high-level discussions, shared on X that she had been invited to the gala dinner hosted alongside the Prime Minister. However, a brief return to her hotel to change into formal attire turned into a misadventure familiar to many Delhi residents: gridlocked traffic. By the time she made it back, the gala was over, leaving her with just one option at 11 pm, room service. Her tweet about ordering a “home-style chicken curry” and potato curry quickly went viral, sparking amused reactions about Delhi traffic and Indian food culture.

Speaking to NDTV Senior Executive Editor Aditya Raj Kaul on the sidelines of the summit, Hooker took the viral moment in stride, calling it part of the “essence of Delhi”. “Traffic had other plans for me that day,” she said, adding that the sheer scale of the summit, which saw more than 300,000 attendees, was a testament to its success. “Delhi feels like it is shut down for the summit, but that’s also part of the prestige of everyone being here.”

See more

I just want to clarify here since this had a bigger reaction than expected.

The organizers shared ahead of time to be careful leaving the venue and trying to get back. They said after 6 there would be travel restrictions and roads shut down.

So no fault of the organizers, my… https://t.co/LYLvaR9CSm

— Sara Hooker (@sarahookr) February 19, 2026

Beyond the humour, Hooker’s reflections underscored the significance of the AI Impact Summit itself. A veteran of global AI safety discussions, she noted that this summit marked a shift in focus. “At earlier summits, the conversation was about existential risk and AI as a threat,” she said. “Here, what stood out was how AI can make an impact in everyday people’s lives, multilingual coverage, real-world safety issues, and practical deployment.”

Hooker, whose career has spanned frontier AI research at leading labs, emphasised the importance of building models that adapt in real time to different cultures, languages and patterns of harm. “Harm is adversarial, as soon as you identify one pattern, it changes,” she said, arguing that flexibility and adaptability are now central challenges for AI developers.

On regulation and governance, she struck a cautious note. While summits are valuable for bringing together policymakers, researchers and industry leaders, Hooker said the real test lies in what follows. “I respect what happens six months after a summit more than what is announced during it,” she said. “That’s when you see what actually sticks.”

Addressing concerns around global misuse of AI, including fears of surveillance and disinformation, Hooker said the issue goes far beyond any one country. With AI research expanding from a niche community to a field impacting millions, she stressed the responsibility on scientists to inform governments about both benefits and risks, and highlighted the growing relevance of “sovereign AI” as a counterbalance.

Hooker also spoke warmly about India-US collaboration in emerging technologies, noting that global talent is the backbone of innovation. Calling Adaption Labs “global-first from day one”, she said partnerships between India and the US could unlock far greater potential in AI research and deployment.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/part-of-the-prestige-ai-summit-attendee-whose-dinner-post-went-viral-11114883

 

The union’s allegations stem from a 52-minute podcast released on February 16, in which the VC appeared and spoke about JNUSU’s office bearers’ rustication

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union on Friday condemned what it described as “blatantly casteist statements” made allegedly by Vice Chancellor Shantisree Dhulipudi Pandit during a podcast about UGC regulations, even as the latter refuted the allegation.

Responding to the JNUSU’s accusation, the vice chancellor said, “I did not mean that, I meant that Wokes have written history like this,” adding, “And those who opposed Wokes had this to say about permanent victimhood and imaginary worlds being created.”

The union’s allegations stem from a 52-minute podcast released on February 16, in which the VC appeared and spoke about JNUSU’s office bearers’ rustication, reversing the ‘university’s anti-national image’ and UGC equity regulations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the students’ union demanded her resignation, saying, “We are shocked at the blatantly casteist statements made by the VC on a podcast.”

JNUSU claimed that Pandit’s remarks about UGC regulations were unnecessary.

Meanwhile, Pandit said that snippets of the full-length podcast were taken out of context.

“When UGC regulations were criticised, the whole controversy was unnecessary, and there is suspicion that due diligence was not put into place. This is the perception,” she told PTI.

The union also cited her remarks that one “cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card.” In response, the VC said, “I am a Bahujan myself, I come from an OBC background.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jawaharlal-nehru-university-vice-chancellor-shantisree-dhulipudi-pandit-sparks-row-over-casteist-remarks-on-ugc-rules-students-union-seeks-resignation-11116429

Retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar has been appointed to study the SIT’s self-contained note and recommend action, if required, against TTD officials.

In continuation of the probe into allegations of ghee adulteration in the making of the sacred Tirupati Laddoos, which the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government has levelled against the previous YSRCP regime, the Andhra Pradesh government has now set up a one-man committee to examine the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar has been appointed to study the SIT’s self-contained note and recommend action, if required, against Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials and committee members.

According to the government order, Kumar has been tasked with examining the SIT note and recommending initiation of suitable action, if deemed necessary, against erring committee members and senior TTD officers.

The committee will specifically look into administrative lapses in the relaxation and enforcement of tender conditions. It will also examine whether decisions were taken with due diligence, proper recorded justification and procedural compliance.

The panel has also been asked to identify the extent of administrative responsibility, if any, of officers, committee members or TTD functionaries in relation to the lapses flagged in the SIT report, and recommend appropriate administrative or disciplinary action.

The government has made it clear that the committee’s examination will be confined strictly to administrative and governance aspects.

The move comes after the state Cabinet, in its last meeting, announced that a separate panel would be set up to examine the SIT report. The latest order formally gives effect to that decision.

The government order refers to the FIR/ Crime No. 470/2024 was registered at Tirupati East Police Station over the alleged supply of adulterated and sub-standard ghee to TTD.

It also references the Supreme Court, through its October 4, 2024 order in W.P.(C) No. 622/2024 where it entrusted the investigation to an independent SIT functioning under the supervision of the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

After completing the investigation, the SIT filed its charge sheet before the court on January 23, 2026. Along with this, it submitted a self-contained note recommending that suitable action be initiated against committee members and senior TTD officers for lapses, omissions and failures in both relaxing and enforcing ghee tender conditions.

It is based on these findings that the government has now constituted the one-man committee.

The committee has been given the power to call for records, seek written clarifications and obtain expert assistance, subject to prior government approval. It has been directed to submit its report within 45 days from the date of the order.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/tirupati-laddu-row-andhra-govt-sets-up-committee-to-examine-sit-report-exclusive-ws-l-9920391.html

The spotlight is firmly on Shamani’s podcast, Figuring Out with Raj Shamani, which has climbed to the No. 1 position on Spotify in India as of early 2026.

At just 28, Raj Shamani added another milestone to his growing resume — a one-on-one conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. A clip from their interaction has gone viral, not just for the diplomatic exchange, but for Shamani’s bold revelation about his podcast’s global ambitions.

During the discussion, Shamani shared that his show currently ranks 25th globally and expressed confidence that it could claim the No. 1 spot within the next 18 months. The moment quickly caught attention online, with many hailing it as a significant achievement for an Indian digital creator engaging directly with a world leader.

See more

>Be Raj Shamani
> at the age of 28 dominating youtube India
> Did podcast with so many powerful people
>Currently he is 25th ranked podcaster in the world
> aiming for the number 1 rank in the world
>still learning still fighting pic.twitter.com/8KBkNJbXDS

— Gagan Choudhary (@choudhary_99415) February 20, 2026

Applause And Criticism

The Macron interview has intensified conversations around Shamani’s influence. Supporters view the meeting as proof that Indian creators can command global relevance and access. Many see his trajectory as emblematic of a new, ambitious generation blending entrepreneurship with media.

Critics, however, argue that while the platform is impressive, some conversations can lean toward promotional or surface-level exchanges. The divide reflects the broader scrutiny that comes with rapid digital fame.

 

PM Modi’s Israel visit aims to strengthen defence ties, focusing on Mission Sudershan and missile tech.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel from February 25, New Delhi is preparing to strengthen its strategic and defence partnership with Tel Aviv significantly.

Although no formal defence contracts are expected to be signed during the trip, the two sides are likely to sign an MoU on security cooperation. Both sides are advancing long-term collaboration estimated to be worth around $10 billion in the coming years, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

An agreement on security cooperation is likely, building on the groundwork laid during Defence Secretary RK Singh’s visit to Israel last November, when an expanded defence cooperation framework was concluded.

Mission Sudershan Gains Momentum

India is particularly interested in jointly developing advanced anti-ballistic missile systems under Mission Sudershan, aimed at shielding Indian territory from long-range missile threats.

Israel’s expertise in layered missile defence — including long-, medium-, and short-range systems — makes it a key partner. The country has demonstrated strong interception capabilities in recent conflicts, reinforcing its reputation in this domain. In addition to missile defence, Israel has reportedly agreed to provide cutting-edge technologies, including advanced laser-based defence systems and other high-precision stand-off weapons, the report stated.

In a landmark verdict, a UP POCSO court sentenced suspended junior engineer Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati to death for sexually abusing 33 boys, some as young as three. The couple lured children using gifts and online video games between 2010-2020 in Banda and Chitrakoot. The court termed the crimes “rarest of rare” and ordered ₹10 lakh compensation for each victim.

In a landmark judgment, a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district on Friday awarded the death penalty to Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati after convicting them in a case involving the sexual assault of 33 minor boys, some as young as three years old.

The court described the crimes as falling in the “rarest of rare” category.

CBI Probe & Chargesheet

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the case on October 31, 2020, against Rambhawan and other unknown persons on allegations of sexually abusing children, using them for pornographic purposes, and creating and disseminating Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online.

Following the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on October 10, 2021. Charges were framed by the court on May 26, 2023.

Rambhawan was employed as a Junior Engineer in the Irrigation Department at the time of the offences.

Systematic Exploitation Over A Decade

According to the CBI, the convicts remained active in Banda and Chitrakoot districts between 2010 and 2020. Investigators found that the accused used various methods to lure children, including offering money, gifts, and access to online video games.

The agency said the crimes involved orchestrated and aggravated penetrative sexual assaults against 33 young boys.

Severe Physical & Psychological Trauma

The CBI revealed that several victims suffered injuries to their private parts during the assaults, with some requiring hospitalisation. A few reportedly developed squint eye conditions.

Many of the children continue to suffer psychological trauma as a result of the abuse.

The investigating agency stated that special care was taken during the probe to ensure the emotional well-being of the minor victims, including providing counselling support during examinations.

PETA India confirmed that Chitkara University will no longer allow the forced swim test, where small animals are placed in water to study depression. The move follows a Pharmacy Council of India directive and concerns over cruelty and reliability. The university said it remains committed to ethical research practices.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) has announced that Chitkara University will no longer permit the forced swim test to be conducted at its institution. The decision follows concerns raised about the experiment’s cruelty and scientific validity.

The forced swim test involves dosing mice, hamsters and other small animals with test substances and placing them in inescapable beakers filled with water.

The animals are made to swim to avoid drowning, in experiments purportedly aimed at studying human depression. Critics argue that when animals stop struggling and float, it reflects energy conservation and adaptation rather than despair. Some research has suggested that the test may be no more reliable than chance in determining the effectiveness of antidepressant medications.

In an email to PETA India, Chitkara College of Pharmacy Professor and Dean Dr. Thakur Gurjeet Singh stated that the institution remains committed to ethical research practices and regulatory compliance. He noted that, in line with a notification from the Pharmacy Council of India, the forced swim test will not be considered or approved for any future academic or research activities at the university.

Earlier in April, the Pharmacy Council of India directed all agencies under its purview, including Chitkara University, to review and take necessary action regarding the continued use of the experiment after representations from PETA India.

Dr. Anjana Aggarwal, Scientist and Research Policy Advisor at PETA India, described the test as cruel and ineffective in advancing understanding of human mental health. She welcomed the university’s decision and called on the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) and institutions under its oversight to prohibit the experiment nationwide.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/fpj-exclusive-cruel-near-drowning-experiment-on-animals-banned-at-chitkara-university

 

The second installment of The Kerala Story 2 faced political criticism from Shashi Tharoor and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, with continued controversy ahead of its February 27 release.

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday criticised the makers of “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond”, alleging that the sequel, like the original film, promotes divisive narratives without factual basis and will only spread hatred in society.

Speaking on the controversy, Tharoor described the first installment, The Kerala Story, as a “hate-mongering film” that lacked foundation. He disputed claims made in the original movie about large-scale religious conversions, saying the numbers cited were exaggerated.

“The first film, Kerala Story, was a hate-mongering film. It lacked any foundation. They were saying that thousands of people were converted, which is not true. I think there were around 30 such cases over a number of years. Ours is a very big country. If a case occurs here and there, it doesn’t mean you should turn it into a big story and use it as propaganda,” Tharoor said while speaking to reporters in New Delhi.

Drawing a contrast with earlier cinema, he referred to films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, which he said celebrated harmony and even received entertainment tax exemptions in their time.

“What’s the point of saying things that will only spread hatred in people’s minds and are not even correct?… In our childhood, films like Amar Akbar Anthony used to get entertainment tax exemptions,” he said.

The sequel, The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond, is slated for release on February 27. Its recently released trailer explored themes of religious conversion, with stories set in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

The makers, in a statement accompanying promotional material, said the film addresses targeted radicalisation and declared, “They targeted our daughters. They broke their trust. They stole their futures. This time, we do not stay silent. The story goes beyond. Is bar sahenge nahi… ladenge (sic)”.

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the first installment of the movie won Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards.

The sequel has now sparked legal scrutiny. A petition challenging the trailer and its portrayal of Kerala has been filed before the High Court. Acting on the plea, the court has issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification, and the film’s producer. The matter is scheduled to be heard on February 24.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-kerala-story-2-teaser-shashi-tharoor-slams-film-makers-hate-mongering-kamakhya-narayan-singh-2871214-2026-02-19

Trump also increased the number of jets shot down during Operation Sindoor from seven to 11 in his latest claim.

US President Donald Trump has once again reiterated his claim of stopping the military stand off between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, the US President once again stated that his tariff threat is what stopped the conflict from escalating, but this time, Trump shared he threatened both countries with a 200 per cent levy.

“He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got on the phone with both of them, and I knew them a little bit. I knew Prime Minister Modi very well…I called them, and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” said Trump.

See more

#WATCH | At the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump says, “…He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got… pic.twitter.com/pm5eT7xjz3

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026

“And all of a sudden, we worked out a deal. I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries. They both wanted to fight. But when it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight…11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets,” he added further.

Trump’s remarks come as a reference to the May 2025 military conflict between India and Pakistan. Following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, India carried out a tri-service military strike in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir called ‘Operation Sindoor’.

India’s response triggered a breakdown in diplomatic ties with Pakistan and escalated the tensions between the two neighbours.

The stand off between India and Pakistan concluded on May 10, 2025 with a “ceasefire understanding.” However, before both countries could announce the cessation in fighting, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and claimed he had ‘stopped the war”.

India, time and again, has denied any involvement of the US in the ceasefire understanding, stating that it was the Pakistani DGMO that called New Delhi for truce.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nothing-is-like-money-donald-trump-claims-200-tariff-threat-stopped-india-pakistan-conflict-operation-sindoor-101771557799605.html

 

The six year-old victim was travelling to school with her maternal grandmother in Delhi’s Janakpuri, when a speeding Santro car rammed into their e-rickshaw from behind, causing it to overturn. The child later died in the hospital.

Fourteen days after a speeding SUV mowed down a 23-year-old biker in Dwarka, another tragic case of reckless driving has surfaced in West Delhi, where a minor schoolgirl lost her life after an e-rickshaw was hit by a speeding car in Janakpuri.

The accident occurred around 7.40 am on February 17 near the Janakpuri Fire Station. The six year-old victim Preshelle Prince was travelling to school with her maternal grandmother, Mercy Xavier (57), when a speeding Santro rammed into their e-rickshaw from behind, causing it to overturn. Both were thrown onto the road and sustained serious injuries.

They were initially rushed to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri and later shifted to a private hospital in Dwarka for advanced treatment. The child succumbed to her injuries during treatment, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sharad Bhaskar said, “A case has been registered at the Janakpuri police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to rash and negligent driving causing death. The offending vehicle has been seized and the accused, identified as Sanjeev, a resident of Majra Dabas, has been taken into custody. Further investigation is underway.”

Recounting the harrowing moments after the crash, the grandmother alleged that bystanders failed to help.

“I begged a car driver, who was standing there watching us, to help and take the child to the hospital. Instead of helping, he ran away. I don’t remember if it was the same car which hit us,” she alleged recalling the horror that unfolded in front of her eyes.

The child’s mother, who works at a hospital, said she received a distress call from her mother informing her of the accident.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/6-year-old-on-way-to-school-killed-after-speeding-car-hits-e-rickshaw-in-delhi-2871322-2026-02-20

 

A viral video showing a Mahindra Thar allegedly crashing into an NH-48 highway signboard has sparked online debate, with many questioning whether the dramatic clip is real or AI-generated. Moreover, a closer examination of the viral video revealed several inconsistencies.

A video is going massively viral on social media showing a Mahindra Thar crashing directly into a high-positioned highway exit signboard. In the clip, the signboard appears to read “Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur” along with “Exit 22” and “NH-48.”

As the video spread rapidly, many viewers found it hard to believe what they were seeing. The incident looked almost unreal, sparking a debate online: Is the video real, or is it AI-generated? Let’s take a closer look and fact-check the claims.

Galgotias University faces controversy after a robotic dog and drone shown as in-house projects were identified as commercial devices. Here’s who owns and runs the institution.

Galgotias University in Noida, Uttar Pradesh has come under controversy after a robotic dog displayed at the India AI Impact Summit was allegedly presented as an in-house innovation but was later identified as a Chinese-made device.

At the university’s stall on Tuesday, representatives introduced a robot dog named Orion, saying it had been developed by the institution’s Centre of Excellence. Soon after, social media users pointed out that the machine closely resembled the Unitree Go2, a quadruped robot made by China-based Unitree Robotics and widely used in robotics training and research.

According to sources, authorities directed the university to vacate its stall at the expo following the dispute. Staff and students were later seen clearing the pavilion, and the power supply to the stall was reportedly cut.

The university faced further scrutiny the same day over a soccer drone displayed on campus. It had been described as a fully homegrown project built end-to-end by staff and students, from engineering design to application. However, online users alleged that the drone resembled the Striker V3 ARF, a commercially available model sold in India for around Rs 40,000. The device is reportedly the Helsel Striker V3 developed by South Korea-based Helsel Group for drone sports.

Amid the backlash, Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur said the confusion arose from the use of the words “develop” and “development”. Blaming Prof. Neha Singh for the episode, the university said she was “ill-informed” and not authorised to speak to the media.

Who Owns Galgotias University?

The university is part of the Galgotias Education Group, which traces its roots back to 1933. The family’s association with education began even earlier when the Galgotia family ran a bookstore named E.D. Galgotia & Sons in Connaught Place, Delhi, in 1930.

Later, Suneel Galgotia took over the family business and expanded it further. In the 1980s, he started Galgotia Publications and gradually built a presence in the education sector. The university functions under the Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society, established in 1998 and based in New Delhi, which manages the administration and growth of the Galgotias institutions.

The Galgotias Education Group also runs Galgotias Institute of Management and Technology (GIMT), Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) and Galgotias College of Pharmacy (GCP). Over the years, it has expanded from specialised professional colleges into a full university system.

The leadership includes Suneel Galgotia, Padmini Galgotia and Dhruv Galgotia, who oversee academic planning, administration and long-term strategy. Dhruv Galgotia also works on industry collaborations and partnerships to support internships, training and placements.

About the University and Courses Offered

Galgotias University is a private multidisciplinary university located in Greater Noida and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Established in 2011, the campus is situated near the Yamuna Expressway. Currently, the group has over 40,000 students enrolled, including international students from more than 40 countries pursuing higher education.

Source : https://www.news18.com/education-career/who-owns-galgotias-university-tracing-its-roots-from-a-delhi-bookstore-to-campus-empire-9916969.html

Neha is the longtime partner of Bobby Kabutar, a high-profile gunman and weapon supplier for the gang, who was also taken into custody.

The Delhi Police Special Cell Counter Intelligence has arrested Khusnuma Ansari, alias Neha, a woman accused of managing a drug syndicate for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Neha is the longtime partner of Bobby Kabutar, a high-profile gunman and weapon supplier for the gang, who was also taken into custody along with two others.

Bobby Kabutar, whose real name is Mahfooz, allegedly served as a primary logistics link for the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gangs. Investigators state he procured high-end firearms from Salim Pistol, reputedly India’s largest illegal arms dealer with links to Pakistan’s ISI.

These weapons were reportedly used in several high-profile crimes, including the Sidhu Moosewala shooting, the firing outside actress Disha Patani’s residence, the Nadir Shah murder in Delhi, and the Seelampur double murders.

The shows a growing trend of women taking operational roles within the Bishnoi gang. Neha is the third “Lady Don” linked to the syndicate to be arrested recently, following Deepa and Zoya Khan (the wife of gangster Hashim Baba).

To the public, Neha operated a beauty parlour in Northeast Delhi. However, police claim this business was merely a front to mask the gang’s illegal activities and manage their drug distribution network. Neha and Bobby have been associated for seven years. During the arrest near the Mahipalpur flyover, police recovered a significant quantity of drugs, leading investigators to refer to her as “Madam Zeher.”

New details have emerged regarding the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. According to police sources, Bobby Kabutar was responsible for conducting the initial reconnaissance (recce). He tracked Moosewala’s movements and routes, passing this critical intelligence to the shooters.

He was reportedly in close contact with Shahrukh, another gangster involved in the planning of the assassination. Bobby had been evading the Special Cell for months by using fake identities and frequently changing his location.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/parlour-owner-by-day-madam-zeher-by-night-delhi-lady-dons-dual-life-11072153?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The Crown Prince was in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit, underscoring the growing centrality of technology and innovation in India-UAE relations.

India and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday deepened their fast-expanding strategic partnership with a strong push on artificial intelligence, advanced technology and investment, as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded a two-day official visit to India.

The Crown Prince was in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit, underscoring the growing centrality of technology and innovation in India–UAE relations. The visit marked his second official trip to India, following his September 2024 visit, and reflected the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Sheikh Khaled on February 19. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which spans political engagement, economic cooperation, energy security, culture and strong people-to-people ties. They also recalled recent high-profile visits to India by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other members of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai royal families, describing them as milestones that have added depth and trust to bilateral relations.

The leaders reviewed the “tremendous progress” achieved across sectors such as defence and security, trade and investment, education, and cultural cooperation. February 18, 2026, marked four years since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a period during which bilateral trade and investment have recorded robust growth. Both sides expressed satisfaction over expanding two-way investment flows and encouraged UAE sovereign wealth funds to further increase their presence in the Indian economy. In this context, they acknowledged the potential role of L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign fund, in strengthening long-term economic cooperation.

Beyond trade and finance, discussions covered collaboration in strategic and future-oriented domains including space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation, signalling a broadening of the partnership beyond traditional areas.

Several concrete initiatives were welcomed during the visit. India and the UAE finalised a Memorandum of Understanding between their health ministries aimed at cooperation in health and medicine. The agreement will promote professional exchanges, joint research, digital health initiatives, pharmaceutical collaboration, and the development of modern medical technologies for the benefit of citizens in both countries.

A key technology milestone was the finalisation of a term sheet between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, G42, and the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for the deployment of a supercomputer cluster in India. Announced earlier during the UAE President’s January 2026 visit, the project will now move into the implementation phase. The supercomputer cluster will form part of the AI India Mission and will be accessible to public and private stakeholders for research, application development, and commercial use.

In the financial services sector, the setting up of an office of the Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company at Gujarat’s GIFT City was also welcomed.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-uae-ties-get-ai-boost-as-abu-dhabi-crown-prince-wraps-key-delhi-visit-11093453

Ashoka warned that within the next two days, Bengaluru would turn ‘stenchy’ as garbage was not being cleared, and garbage lorries and auto rickshaws were stranded on the outskirts.

Garbage collection in Bengaluru is likely to be disrupted on Thursday due to the ongoing blockade of waste-laden compactors at Bellahalli landfill even as the issue snowballed into a political slugfest. While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday blamed BJP MLAs for the obstruction, Opposition leader R Ashoka charged that the government has become “garbage mafia”.

Villagers in Mahadevapura on Wednesday continued to block hundreds of vehicles from dumping the waste at Bellahalli, which takes nearly half of the city’s garbage.

The trigger for the blockade, which started on Tuesday, was the death of a two-year-old boy in a road accident on Sunday, with villagers — who obstructed traffic on roads including the stretch leading to the landfill – holding the state government responsible for the poor condition of roads in their area.

While none of the vehicles that went to the landfill could return after emptying their loads, the situation was no different at the seven other processing plants spread across the city.

However, officials of the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) claimed that these facilities were running smoothly.

It is learnt that a few MLAs such as Krishna Byre Gowda (Congress), Manjula Limbavali (BJP), S T Somashekar (expelled from BJP), Dheeraj Muniraju (BJP), M Krishnappa (Congress) have resisted dumping of garbage in their constituencies, especially after the state government did not approve a special grant of Rs 350 crore promised in the Bengaluru civic body’s annual budget.

Shivakumar warned that strict action would be initiated under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) if the blockade continued and alleged that BJP MLAs were behind the obstructions. Stating that MLAs cannot blackmail the government for funds, he warned BJP legislators that the garbage would be dumped in front of their houses and BJP offices if they continued to obstruct the disposal of waste.

“If Arvind Limbavali and Dheeraj Muniraju keep objecting to the disposal of waste in their constituencies for want of funds, where do we dispose of the garbage? We will have to send it to the homes of R Ashoka, Vijayendra or the BJP party office,” he said and added that the processing plants and landfills had existed even before he took over as the Bengaluru development minister.

Reacting to the accident that killed a boy, he said the law will take its course in such cases but the garbage disposal can’t be stopped.

“The waste is being disposed of in the constituencies of S T Somashekar, B Shivanna and Krishna Byre Gowda also.”

Meanwhile, Ashoka warned that within the next two days, Bengaluru would turn “stenchy” as garbage was not being cleared, and garbage lorries and auto rickshaws were stranded on the outskirts.

Cautioning that public anger would mount, Ashoka demanded the immediate release of funds.

“Earlier, there was a garbage contractor mafia from Andhra in Bengaluru. Today, the state government is the mafia. There is a 7% commission to award a tender, another 7% each for settling the bill and issuing a special NOC. The government takes 21%, and the engineers swallow 71%. There is nothing left for picking up the garbage,” alleged the BJP leader.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/garbage-lorries-stuck-tempers-high-bengaluru-stares-at-citywide-waste-chaos-3903721

The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticised the Modi government and said the incident has brought “international embarrassement” for the country. Following the controversy, the University was asked to vacate the Expo.

Amid the Galgotias University’s Robodog controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government, accusing them of ‘copy-paste’. In a post on X on Wednesday, he said, “First, they copied UPA Schemes and Congress guarantees and rebranded them as their own grand vision. Now, even technology is copy-paste.”

Criticising the Centre, the Karnataka chief minister wrote that the Modi government does not believe in ‘Make in India,’ instead, “they believe in ‘Fake in India’.’’

He said that the incident has brought “international embarrassment” to the country on such a prominent platform as the AI Impact Summit.

Siddaramaiah alleged that the private institution is BJP-linked, and wrote, “At the AI Impact Summit, a BJP-linked institution passed off a Chinese robot as ‘Indian innovation’. Chinese media quickly exposed it – turning the spectacle into an international embarrassment.” He further said, “As the leader, so the follower.”

See more

Narendra Modi and the BJP don’t believe in ‘Make in India’. They believe in ‘Fake in India’.

At the AI Impact Summit, a BJP-linked institution passed off a Chinese robot as “Indian innovation”. Chinese media quickly exposed it – turning the spectacle into an international… pic.twitter.com/D4dxuNN6B9

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 18, 2026

The Karnataka CM said that because of this incident, India’s reputation has suffered, and said, “That is the real shame.”

What is the Robodog Controversy? 

At the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Galgotias University presented a robodog, named “Orion,” allegedly as their own innovation. The backlash began after a video went viral on social media, with many people pointing out that the machine closely resembles the Go2 model produced by Unitree, which is available to purchase for around Rs 2–3 lakh.

Following the criticism, the University posted on X and clarified that they never claimed to have built the robotic dog. It said the device had been procured from the Chinese firm and was being used as an instructional tool to help students explore robotics and artificial intelligence.

See more

Galgotias University At AI Impact Summit India 2026 Showcasing Student-Led Startups pic.twitter.com/3eGcOSiJYk

— Galgotias University (@GalgotiasGU) February 17, 2026

However, an X Community Note attached to the post claimed the university’s assertion was misleading, stating that the institution had indeed presented the robot as its own by naming it “Orion” and referring to it as developed by its team during the summit.

Later, the controversy fuelled up even more after a video of a woman went viral, in which she introduced the machine as part of the university’s Centre of Excellence, explained the robot’s features, and claimed that “Orion” had been developed internally.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/copied-upa-schemes-now-even-technology-is-copy-paste-karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-on-robodog-row-at-india-impact-ai-summit-3903250 

Mallya, who left India in March 2016, is accused of defaulting on multiple loan repayments amounting to several thousand crores. He was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in January 2019 by a special court hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following the declaration, extradition proceedings against him were initiated.

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that he is unable to provide a definite timeline for his return to India as his passport has been revoked and he is barred from leaving England and Wales under orders passed by courts in the United Kingdom.

Mallya made the submission through his counsel Amit Desai before a bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The statement was filed in response to the court’s earlier direction asking him to clarify whether he intended to return to India to face trial while pursuing his petitions challenging the order declaring him a fugitive economic offender and the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.

Mallya, who left India in March 2016, is accused of defaulting on multiple loan repayments amounting to several thousand crores. He was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in January 2019 by a special court hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following the declaration, extradition proceedings against him were initiated.

In his statement, Mallya said he was unable to travel due to restrictions imposed by UK courts.

“Pursuant to orders passed by the Courts in England, the petitioner is not permitted to leave or attempt to leave England and Wales or apply for or be in possession of any international travel document. In any event, the Petitioner is unable to precisely state when he will return to India,” the statement said.

Desai further submitted that Mallya’s presence in India was not necessary for the High Court to hear his petitions challenging the fugitive offender tag and the provisions of the Act.

Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued that Mallya had invoked the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of the High Court, which is equitable in nature. He submitted that a person who does not comply with the law cannot seek discretionary relief from the court.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/passport-revoked-uk-ban-in-place-mallya-tells-bombay-high-court-he-has-no-return-timeline-2870686-2026-02-19

With inadequate police deployment to manage the surge, the situation remained tense for some time at Pune’s Shivneri Fort. At narrow entry and exit points such as the Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza below the Amberkhana, several people moved forward simultaneously, triggering the stampede.

A huge crowd assembled at Shivneri Fort in Pune district for Shivaji Jayanti, resulting in a stampede that injured several people, including women and young children. The incident occurred as attendees arrived to participate in festivities and rituals at the historic site.

Many visitors, including those carrying the ceremonial Shiv Jyot and members of various organisations, have been gathering at the fort since Wednesday night. This heavy turnout led to congested conditions at important access points within the premises.

In a video shot from the top of the fort, a sea of people can be seen carrying Shiv Jyot and saffron flags, moving slowly. Moments later, several people are seen attempting to escape the sluggish, overcrowded line by climbing onto the dilapidated structure of the fort, where others were also present.

In a desperate bid to get out, some people can also be seen climbing up with the help of others who had already taken shelter in the cracks of the fort walls, which were nearly filled.

Authorities noted that the police deployment on-site was not adequate to handle the unexpected crowd surge. The situation escalated at narrow entry and exit points, specifically the Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza below the Amberkhana, where groups moved forward at the same time, prompting the stampede.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uncontrolled-crowd-at-punes-shivneri-fort-several-women-children-injured-in-stampede-like-chaos-during-shiv-jayanti-2870715-2026-02-19

Galgotias University said Professor Neha Singh mistakenly presented a Chinese-made robotic dog “Orion” as its own during the India AI Impact Summit. The university clarified she was unaware of the robot’s origins and was not authorised to speak to the press, attributing the error to her enthusiasm on camera.

Galgotias University has issued a formal statement on Wednesday following a controversy caused by professor Neha Singh, who mistakenly described a Chinese-made robotic dog as an in-house innovation during the India AI Impact Summit. According to the university, Singh was unaware of the product’s technical origins and, “in her enthusiasm of being on camera”, she gave factually incorrect information. The university in its statement also said that Singh was also not authorised to speak to the press.

See more

Galgotias University issues a press statement following the row over the display of a Chinese-made robodog at the AI Impact Summit expo

“We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent Al Summit. One of our representatives, manning… pic.twitter.com/R0n3Ea1uhm

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

Stating that there was “no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation,” the university said it remains firmly committed to academic integrity, transparency and responsible representations of its work.” Further adding, it said that it has vacated the premises “understanding the organiser’s sentiment”.

Details Of The Robodog Controversy

The controversy erupted at Bharat Mandapam when a video circulated of Singh demonstrating a four-legged robotic dog. In the footage, she explicitly introduced the robot as “Orion,” stating it was developed by the “Centre of Excellence” at Galgotias University.

She further linked the robot to a massive Rs 350 crore investment by the institution, describing it as a sophisticated surveillance tool designed for difficult terrains.

See more

People like Galgotias University “professor” Neha Singh are the face of “artificial” intelligence who make a fool of themselves and the entire country. Will talk about the absolute collapse of “cute little and naughty” DD News as India’s public broadcaster in the next debate. pic.twitter.com/UdW0psuum6

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) February 17, 2026

As the video went viral, social media users highlighted that the robot was actually a Unitree Go2, manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and education worldwide. The University faced severe online and offline criticism.

The private university has been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit after the controversy. Following which, IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government does not want any exhibitor to showcase items that are not their own. “We do not want such exhibits to continue,” he said.

“If you mislead… we do not want a controversy (and) so we do not want a controversial agency… whom people believe are exhibiting something which is not theirs,” Krishnan said.

Neha Singh On Robodog Controversy

While speaking to about the controversy, Singh told PTI, “The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly and the intent may not have been properly understood.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/enthusiasm-of-being-on-camera-galgotias-university-issues-apology-over-robodog-row-says-representative-was-ill-informed